The God of Cool, Calm and Collected - Sans the Secret or Degree or AXE!

Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!” - Esther 5:1-3

When I read through the O.T. and I am surrounded in a story of physical, earthly might and power, it is normally standing "small" against a rather large and unintimidated God! He never freaked out in front of any King, or his armies.

Ladies, He can handle your husband. And, men, I know this might be even harder to grasp but He can handle your wife. Kids? Inlaws? Neighbors with bad manners and hygiene? Noe of those things muss or fuss our God. Pastors, he can handle the church council. And congregants (whatever those are) he can handle your church headship (whatever that is).

He can handle the person who gives you grief. He can handle your Ex. that

He can even handle your enemy. (By the by...what have you done lately to reduce the number of those you might call "enemy?")

What's my point in all of this? It is this, Your Father who hung the heavens, He can handle the most intimidating situation, because in the hand of the Lord, any heart is like water; not so tough and not to very hard.

In the above verses you can see that Esther walked in this kind of confidence in her relationship to God and in fact, though she was the visible marker (the one facing the King) it was her God who provided the answers and the power. Read those verse! Just look at this young girl! She doesn't cringe and cower; she doesn't stumble on her words...she stands like a mighty oak. Esther stood in front of the king's rooms. "The king saw Esther the queen standing"(Note my emphasis)) No shaking in her boots or biting her nails (to those of you who know me, that's a personal rub on yours truly). Though she's doing what's never been done before, a woman of no earthly importance standing in a place where she should NOT be, she is standing tall, confident in the Lord.

And when the king saw her standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he extended his golden scepter to her. This is the gesture. Without it she would die. And now, confident, she touches the top of the scepter, making a connection with the king. "Then the king said to her, 'What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you' " (Esther 5:3).

I love that! Esther doesn't know what to expect, and the king says simply, "What's on your mind? Whatcha got going on?" In fact, he goes further. He says, "What can I do for you? Name it. There's no limit; it's yours."

If you had been reading the whole story you would know that she had an enemy. His name is Haman. Haman wanted not only Esther gone but the total annihilation of all the Jews. And, now, here it is! This is her moment to cut the neck of Haman - -but she doesn't. Not now. This is a truly wise (as in God's thoughts and God's timing) woman. And, Esther understands the value of timing. No need to sweat it. And, probably an even strong lesson for you and I, no need to be vengeful. You know why she can show such spiritual poise, grace and maturity? Esther had been waiting on the Lord.

Yesterday was not a better day for me and the concept of waiting on the Lord.I freaked. I got in my own way and in the way of God's timing. Do you ever do that? Do you ever get in a hurry, become impatient with things, people activities? We all jump ahead and do rash things. We shoot from the hip. We run off at the mouth, saying things that we later regret. In my case it gave me the opportunity to make my wife a wonderful breakfast this morning. But when we have sufficiently waited on the Lord, He gets full control of our spirit and at those moments, we're like a glove, and His hand is moving us wherever He pleases. Having known that experience, I can testify, there's nothing to compare it to. It's marvelous!

So my exhortation to you this day is simple: Wait on the Lord-You will have renewed strength-You will mount up life an eagle...run, not be weary...walk (or rollerblade) and and not faint...and I...remain

InHISgrip,
~J~