Haman connived to have the Jews executed and removed from their culture, but God orchestrated the antidote … Esther’s favor with Xerxes. God’s overall plan always includes a solution for the sinful devices of men.

God sent His Son, Christ Jesus, to be the ULTIMATE solution for every device the enemy imposes to destroy the lives of men.

A truly abundant life is found ONLY in a relationship with Jesus.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, take the ruins of our lives and replace death with life, disease with health, and sorrow with joy.

DAILY READING: Esther 2-7

King Xerxes was in high spirits at the conclusion of his 7-day banquet when he demanded that his queen, Vashti, be brought out as a possession for her beauty to be displayed to his guests. She refused and lost her place as his queen because of it. This, of course, created an opportunity for Esther to be chosen as the new queen. Alcohol, nevertheless, was responsible for the breakup of their marriage.

Leaders can’t afford to make fools of themselves,
    gulping wine and swilling beer,
Lest, hung over, they don’t know right from wrong. [Pr. 31:4]

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, keep me from influences that pervert justice and destroy what’s good.

DAILY READING: Neh. 12,13; Esther 1

When the children of Israel were distressed or oppressed by an enemy, they cried out to God for help. He heard them and delivered them time after time. In every cycle of distress and relief, God showed Himself to be compassionate, forgiving, and willing to rescue. It’s always His nature to welcome the down and outers.

Too many don’t need God. They have all they want and need, but those who see their need of a Saviour are actually blessed.

“All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful of my life.” -Gloria Gaither

DAILY PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I repent from my sins and the error of my ways. Heal my life. Make something beautiful out of it.

DAILY READING: Nehemiah 9-11

Leaders get ideas from God that don’t necessarily occur to others who don’t really need them. If there are conflicting ideas on how to lead, confusion and strife can be generated. Nehemiah declared, “God put it in my heart.”

The Lord’s ways are higher than ours, and He gives perspective and wisdom to those who need it for their task. In whatever He has asked you to do, seek His wisdom and ideas to accomplish your goals. Act upon them with the faith He supplies.

DAILY PRAYER: Father, You own it all. You control it all. Dwell in my heart in all wisdom that I might be a faithful servant in the role You have given.

DAILY READING: Nehemiah 4-8 (Sorry I didn’t post yesterday. You have some ground to make up.)

Nehemiah had obviously been a man of integrity and healthy submission as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Babylon. This was demonstrated when Nehemiah asked the king for authorization and building materials to reconstruct the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah cited “the gracious hand of God” upon him as the reason for his success.

Humility, integrity, and submission are a godly combination that gets the attention of heaven.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, forgive us for insensitively becoming proud. We humble ourselves under Your mighty hand.

DAILY READING: Nehemiah 1-3

Although the enemies of God arranged for the rebuilding of the temple to be halted for a period of time, it was renewed by conducting research to expose the edict Cyrus had made for its rebuilding. God had moved the heart of Cyrus to provide for it.  God’s plan won in the end.

Often, our lives and plans for God’s kingdom meet with resistance. Careful examination of God’s Word causes us to act and have faith in what He has declared. Our work in His kingdom can continue. Hold fast to His Word.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we trust in Your Word for our daily direction. Empower us to faithfully keep rebuilding lives for You to live in.

DAILY READING: Ezra 4-7

The older members of Israel began weeping when they saw the temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem, upon the order of Cyrus, King of Persia. They had known the former temple, and the rush of emotions overcame them. Their weeping was mixed with the sound of joy coming from the younger members.

The Psalmist declared, “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go up to the house of our God.” The Lord loves to hear the involvement of sincere emotion when we enter His presence.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, I will always be joyful when You are near. I get weepy when I think of all Your goodness to me.

DAILY READING: Ezra 1-3

Josiah was a good king of Israel. His rule delayed the dealings of God upon the nation for the failings of past leaders. When he passed, his acts of devotion were recorded and remembered.

If you passed soon, would your life be remembered by the acts of devotion to God that were witnessed by your contemporaries?

“Only one life, so soon it will pass. Only what’s done for Christ will last,so give to Jesus all your days. It’s the only life that pays when you recall you have but one life.”

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, apart from You, I can do nothing. Let Your Spirit and works of love and service flow through me today.

DAILY READING: 2 Chron. 34-36

As long as Hezekiah did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God, he prospered. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. [2 Chron. 31:21]

Prosperity is not a dirty word. If a man seeks prosperity with selfish motives and devices, men can take it away. If a man seeks the Lord, the Lord can give it and men CAN’T take it away.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, in the same way Hezekiah sought You and worked wholeheartedly, I want to give myself to Your purposes in the earth.

DAILY READING: 2 Chron. 31-33

Hezekiah, a good king, commanded that the temple be cleaned and made useful for sacrifices once again after Ahaz had cluttered it with idolatry. Hezekiah gave the order to the priests and Levites who in turn cleaned out God’s House in 16 days. The very next morning, sacrifices were again made.

Leaders need to make conscious decisions to clear out the messes, the sinful accumulations of anything preventing the worship of God. Then, the blessings of the Lord will soon follow.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, put Your finger on areas of our lives that need cleansing, or eliminating. Give us the grace to “clean house.”

DAILY READING: 2 Chron. 28-30