“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”
Esther 4:16 (NLT)
Pray and Fast
Have you ever fasted? I haven't - not even the 'forty-hour famine'. (i have friends who have survived this with the aid of much barley sugar!)
In Bible times fasting was practised to show humility, sorrow and dependence on God. 'Prayer is talking to God as a friend'; fasting is for those thoughts which lie too deep for words.
Our story takes place in and around the royal palace of Susa, in Persia.
The main characters are:
- Esther, Queen of Persia,
- Mordecai, her uncle and adviser to the king,
- Ahasuerus, King of Persia, and
- Haman, King's counsellor and traditional enemy of the Jews, with a plan for 'ethnic cleansing'.
Esther was asked to 'Do something!' Something dangerous, possibly fatal to help her people.
Esther challenged Mordecai to round up as many of God's people he could find in the streets of Susa and have them fast and pray for her. She said, "pray for me, fast for me. My maidens and I will do the same. And we will see what God will do!' She determined to wait on the Lord and allow Him to frame her words. (Swindoll, Esther)
And He did!
PRAY that God will give us the words we need, and, sometimes, the wisdom to not use words at all.
Today's contributor: Donna and Gwen Pascoe
