Hi everyone! It's Tania, and welcome to the Moms for Christ podcast. The Word that has touched my heart this week is a Word that we have gone over recently, and it comes from the book of Esther, chapter 8 verse 5, and it says: “‘If it pleases the king,’ she said, ‘and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king's provinces.’”

This Scripture really hit my heart because of Esther’s desire to please the king. Haman devised a plan to destroy all the Jews of the kingdom. When Esther learned of Haman’s plans, she had a choice - she could have stayed silent and try to save herself; or, answer the call to save her people, risking her security and life. Instead, she prepared herself and the people so that she could confidently bring a petition before the king - saving her people. It wasn't enough for her to prepare in her own way - she went before the king desiring that he would be pleased with her. She understood everything she had done meant nothing if the king was not pleased.

“I don't want to just look pleasing on the outside - I want us to be pleasing to the Lord on the inside as well!”

One of my favorite fruits is grapes. There've been times I've seen them in the store and bought them based on how delicious and pleasing they look to me. I remember how disappointed I've been when I would get home after washing them and eat a few, only to find that they were bitter or tasteless - how displeasing! I don't want to be like those grapes to the Lord. In many ways, those grapes were considered prepared to eat, but when it came time to eat them they were not pleasing. I don't want to just look pleasing on the outside - I want us to be pleasing to the Lord on the inside as well! Haman looked pleasing on the outside to the king - but when the truth was revealed, he was found to be guilty. His preparation not only cost him his life, but his ten sons as well.

“Is my preparation producing godliness in me and my family? Are we growing in Christ daily, looking more like Him?”

God has called us to prepare His kingdom. We prepare by seeking Him, and then we’re obediently following his commands. I have to ask: “Is my preparation producing godliness in me and my family? Are we growing in Christ daily, looking more like Him?”; or “Has my preparation produced bitterness and hatred? Was what I prepared done in my own way?” I see how important it is to be like Esther daily going before the king - asking if what we have brought He is pleased with.

“Lord, let what we bring to You be something that You would not only find pleasing, but that You would be pleased with us! ”

Thank You Lord for Your Word and the conviction it brings. I pray it will cause us to grow in You. Lord, please teach us to prepare in a way that is pleasing to You. Let us seek You, getting to know You more - finding out what is pleasing to You and then doing it! Lord, let what we bring to You be something that You would not only find pleasing, but that You would be pleased with us! Amen. God bless and have a wonderful week! I will speak to you again soon.