Today is September 30.


The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.   
  
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the book of Esther, chapter 4.  
  

5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.  
6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.  
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days passed since I was called to go to the king.”  
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”  
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. 
  

Imagine today that you are in Esther’s place… having to stand up to the King in a time of great trouble for your entire people, fasting and praying and scared.... The task before you is all risk:  You are frightened, in over your head, and alone. . Esther is hungry, frightened, clear about the risks before her… and brave. Take a few moments to identify with what that may have felt like. 
   
Recall a time the Lord called you to obedience to Him, even though it felt like a risk. Listen to the story again with your own experience in mind. Pay attention for a word or phrase that stands out to you.  
   
As we end our time of prayer, consider any position of leadership, or authority, or privilege you may have. Do you ever consider that you have been placed where you are in order to walk out in bravery? What does it mean to you, that perhaps you have come to your own position ‘for such a time as this’? 

Music: Anything and Everything - Heaven and Earth - YouTube