"Esther 4:16 principle"
Hey, everyone!
Hope you’re having an awesome, joy-filled day! You know, the other day I was…
“Hey! What if I’m not!? What if I’m NOT having an awesome, joy-filled day? What if I’m having a yucky day? What am I supposed to do about it?”
Oh.
Well, there are some things you could do if you’re having a yucky day, depending on the reason for the yuckiness.
If you’re having a yucky day because of the weather…
Well, there ain’t a whole lot you could do about the wet, cold, "how-many-times-is-it-gonna-snow-in-a-row?"-iness except to remember...
…that tons of folks have had (literally!) TONS more snow than we have...
…and that whatever the weather, “God says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth…’ " (Job 37) and “lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds do his bidding...” (Psalm 148)…
So, we pretty much have the weather God chooses for us!
…and that no matter what the weather, in your heart, it can always be spring! Because...
“the righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon... They will always stay fresh and green” (Pslam 92)
Or maybe you're having a yucky day because of the things you see on the news. If it’s because of the sufferings of so many people who have a difficult life that just keeps getting more difficult...
There is something you can do! You can lift them to the throne of God! We could pray for brothers and sisters in Christ who are there, trying to be faithful, brave, and true to their Master in a tough situation.
In Revelation 8, there is this amazing scene where an angel takes this golden incense ball full of fire from the altar of God and “...hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake!” In the golden ball, this angel had collected and included “the prayers of the saints” (Rev 8.3). In the middle of hate and animosity and shootings and beatings and explosions in the troubled places of the world, the prayers of the people of God become a bomb of love, goodness, and strength in God for those who are struggling to walk with Him!
If you pray, you can have an important role around the world!
Amazing!
On the other hand, if you’re having a yucky day because…
Let's say there is someone in your life who is driving you nuts. Maybe it’s because they have something going on that isn’t right and that God doesn’t want. You know it, but they don’t.
Or maybe it’s because they just have some annoying ways that kind of make you kooky. You know how all of us can be irritating at times.
To have a brighter day, maybe you need to talk to that someone about that something in their life that isn’t good. Especially if it’s something you know ain’t God’s will for them! We all need someone with the courage to confront us from time to time!
Or maybe you just need to ignore and put up with their little irritating ways, knowing that we’re all annoying to others from time to time!
“So how do I know if I should talk to them or just put up with them? How do I know if it’s something to confront or something to forget?”
Why not try the “Esther 4.16 principle”?
She had to get the courage to face a scary king about a situation and decided that, before she made a move to confront, she’d pray about it for three days. Somebody breaking your heart? Or driving you nuts? You can’t tell whether it’s wrong or just annoying? Just pray about it for three days. Ask God to tell you whether you should speak up or shut up!
“Yeah, but...let’s say...someone cuts in front of me in traffic.. I'd have to to decide whether or not I should tell him/her off and possibly point out through my gesticulations their short-comings. If I wait for three days before deciding, my opportunity would be gone!”
Yes, it would.
Have a joy-filled day!