31st. May. 2022. Daily Devotion.
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?’ Esther 4:14
“Why me?” Have you ever asked that question when someone asked you to do something or when something tragic happened to you?
Queen Esther may have felt that way when her cousin Mordecai suggested that she could use her position to stop the annihilation of her people. Mordecai reasoned that no one else among the Jews had such access to the king. So perhaps that’s why God had made Esther queen—to be in a place to stop such a terrible evil from happening and save her people.
Esther knew what she had to do. She asked all her people to fast for three days and nights, and this would have included fervent prayers to God for deliverance. When Esther walked into the king’s throne room, she was wrapped not just in a beautiful robe but also in the prayers of God’s people. It wasn’t just the king in that room; God was there too.
We must remember that God is always with us in our world too, preparing places, opportunities, choices, and options ahead of us. We have a God who cares. We can rejoice that nothing happens by chance and that even the sad and hurtful things of life are under God’s control.
Praise God that we can wake up each morning knowing that God is faithful and will carry us through each day. Praise God that Jesus has come to stop evil from happening and to save his people.
Lord, when we are hurt and frightened, help us to remember that you watch over us and care for us. May we rest in your love today. Amen.
God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, set our hearts on fire with love for you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God now and for ever, Amen.
For Refugees
Almighty and merciful God, whose Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own; look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger,
homeless and hungry. Bless those who work to bring them relief; inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts; and guide the nations of the world towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For God’s Holy Church
Father of mercy, your love embraces everyone, and through the Resurrection of your Son, you call me and all the members of your church into your wonderful light. Dispel our darkness and make us a people with one heart and one voice, forever singing your praise, in Jesus, the Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Meditation
“In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” ~ Max De Pree
