Letting go!

Let God!

Today in our church service the pastor spoke on Esther Chapter 5. His topic was The sovereignty of God is at work (vs 1-5) with subheadings of Esther approaches the king; The king responds favorable to Esther, and Why didn't Esther immediately inform the king of Haman's plot? Here is my perspective.

The sovereignty of God is at work. God is in control and He will show us a time to act.
      I remember once, many years ago, when I was talking with our pastor (not the same as now) about how we can know that God is at work, how we can know that He is truly in control and how we know what he wants us to do and how. The book of Esther, Chapter 5 talks about Esther coming to the king and how she prepared for that audience. The same can be said of us in going to our heavenly Father. As my pastor shared with me all those years ago, we need to prepare.

     We need to spend much time (daily) in the Word and in Prayer and Communication with God. Although we rarely hear an audible voice when we talk to God in prayer, I believe we hear him; in His Word, in our silent meditation, and in the voices of others. Those were the three things my pastor said to me in response to my question about how to know God's will for my life. Pray, Read the Word, and Seek Counsel of solid Christians. I have endeavored to do that very thing. I am human and I fail, but God never does.
     The king responds favorably to Esther and bids her to come into his presence for an audience. I am so thankful I am not living in that day where the Queen took her life in her hands by going into the hall uninvited by the king. As our pastor shared this morning, Esther probably breathed a huge sigh of relief to know that she did not face immediate death. Yes, I am thankful that ANYTIME and ANYWHERE I seek Him, God bids me to come into His presence without fear.

     The king held out his hand and Esther came to touch the tip of his scepter. All we have to do is reach out and take God's hand, whenever we want. God asks us to do that very thing in His Word. And we can expect a favorable response. We do not need to fear and tremble at what God will do. We can KNOW He is looking to present us with His very best.
     Esther realized that the timing for her to share Haman's plot was not when she went into the king's hall. The timing was wrong. We can know that whenever we seek God, whenever we need to share something, to tell him our troubles, concerns and grief, that he will ALWAYS take the time for us. The place is ALWAYS right. And then God gives us His Divine Wisdom to know what His will is for us.
     God complies when our desires are in line with His will. When it seems that our prayers are not answered, or that God sends us an answer other than what we desire, it is because we have either not prepared ourselves properly, we are not expecting God to answer in His way in His time, or we are asking something that God knows is not good for us and withholds that in our best interest.
     As the pastor wrapped up his message he asked this question, "What miracle of God's grace do you need?" I thought about that, in the context of Esther presenting herself to the king without his request. She expected a miracle and God gave that to her by having the king give her a favorable response and in acquiescing to her request.
     We often think that WE need to be the one to make ourselves perfect BEFORE we present ourselves to God. The exact opposite is what is true. God wants us to come as we are and allow His grace to flood over us. This truly is the miracle.
     I remember what my father-in-law said numerous times when I was first married to my husband and in the years following; "God is in Control." As I grew and matured as a Christian I came to understand and TRUST that God IS in Control. He always has been and He always will be. The miracle that I still need, is to remember that very thing every day. He will hear me, receive me and take care of me. I just need to open my hand and give the control back to the One who holds it best.