Nation Online

Retracing the footsteps of Esther—The power of preparation!

I am an avid reader and can quickly go through a 220 page book in as little as 24 hours. Sometimes I need to check out the meaning of some words and therefore always have a dictionary or thesaurus at hand.  So I had the privilege of looking up the word ‘prepare’.  It literally means making something ready or mentally fit for action. So, Esther was making herself ready and mentally fit for action. That was powerful!

Today, we look at some of the elements of preparation  -  patience & dedication. Esther must have been a patient person.  Esther 2:12 – 13 says the women had to complete a year’s  preparation. Esther patiently endured the 12 months for just one night with a king. She disciplined herself to be the best. Those 12 months must not have been easy for her, knowing that she was one of the many and the chances of her being selected to be the queen were almost non-existent. 

 In chapters 4 & 5, we read the story of how she also patiently prepared herself by setting the right atmosphere through her banquet before asking the king for a favour. Daughter of the most High God, may you not miss the day of your opportunity by impatience.  In a world where everything is ‘microwaved’, may we learn the gift of patience!  May you be dedicated to your purpose.

We also read in Esther 2:12 that the oil of myrrh was one of the perfumes used in the preparation. Do you remember that when Jesus was born, the wise men from the east gave Him myrrh as a symbolic gesture to prepare him for his subsequent death? We read in John 19:39 that Nicodemus brought myrrh to be used at Jesus’ burial.  Why am I mentioning all this? I am trying to bring to your attention that Esther patiently allowed herself to die to self, in order that ‘her new life’ might appear in the King’s court. Even Paul in Galatians 2:20 said ‘it is no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me’.  In preparation, there is an element of dying to self. Know that as much as it is painful to die to self, pain itself is temporary, but quitting is forever! May I pray for you that you be wise in your choices.

I once read somewhere that in order to make a difference, all you need to do is start  -  May you start to embrace the power of preparation, my sister!