🎉 Download your copy of the new Journal With Me – Proverbs! This new book includes spiritual insights, opportunities for personal reflection, and sample journal pages.

Esther 7:1-10

👉 How did Esther show wisdom in approaching the king?

• She exercised restraint (v 2)

Esther waited for the king to bring up her request.

• She showed humility (v 3).

She began with, “If I have found favor…” This also served as a reminder to the king that she had, in fact, always been in his good graces.

• She made a personal appeal (v 3-4).

My life, my people, we, I and my people – this made sure the king was aware that his queen was personally affected.

• She played to the king’s weakness – his obsession with self (v 4).

This showed that Esther had insight into what would matter to the king.

👉 Two things about anger and hatred…

1. Anger and hatred will blind a person to the potential fallout of his/her actions (v 5-6). In his haste to harm the Jews – Haman unknowingly threatened the life of the queen.
2. A person’s anger and hatred of others will reap unpleasant consequences in his/her own life (v 10). Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had built out of his hatred for Mordecai.

Happy Thursday, friends!

🎉 Download your copy of the new Journal With Me – Proverbs! This new book includes spiritual insights, opportunities for personal reflection, and sample journal pages. 🎉

Esther 7:1-10

👉 How did Esther show wisdom in approaching the king?

• She exercised restraint (v 2)

Esther waited for the king to bring up her request.

• She showed humility (v 3).

She began with, “If I have found favor…” This also served as a reminder to the king that she had, in fact, always been in his good graces.

• She made a personal appeal (v 3-4).

My life, my people, we, I and my people – this made sure the king was aware that his queen was personally affected.

• She played to the king’s weakness – his obsession with self (v 4).

This showed that Esther had insight into what would matter to the king.

👉 Two things about anger and hatred…

1. Anger and hatred will blind a person to the potential fallout of his/her actions (v 5-6). In his haste to harm the Jews – Haman unknowingly threatened the life of the queen.
2. A person’s anger and hatred of others will reap unpleasant consequences in his/her own life (v 10). Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had built out of his hatred for Mordecai.

Happy Thursday, friends!

Esther 6:1-14

Chapter five ended with Haman building the gallows at his house for Mordecai to be hanged. The scene now changes to the king in his bed unable to sleep (v 1).

[Reminder: look for God behind the scenes in the book of Esther.]

The king couldn’t sleep on this particular night and called for, of all things, the book of memorable deeds – the chronicles – to be read to him. As he was listening to his bedtime story, he was reminded that a man named Mordecai once saved his life. He decided that something must be done to honor this man.

Enter Haman who, upon hearing that there was someone the king desired to honor, naturally assumed it was him. [Prideful much?]

👉 What should be done for the man the king delights to honor – Haman’s ideas (v 6)?

• royal robes should be brought (v 8 )

• a horse that the king has ridden should be brought (v 8 )

• the king’s most noble official should dress the man in the robes and place the man on the horse (v 9)

• the official should lead the man through the streets proclaiming that the man is worthy of the king’s honor (v 9)

The king loved the idea and instructed Haman to be the official in the scenario and Mordecai to be the one being honored (v 10). Oh, the humiliation as Haman hurried back home after obeying the king’s command (v 12).

👉 Wise Words from a Wicked Woman

When Haman’s wife heard what happened – she said something very insightful. Remember, this was the woman who suggested that her husband build a gallows and hang Mordecai in their front yard.

“If Mordecai is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him” (v 13).

Do you see it?

Zeresh, Haman’s wife, recognized God at work behind the scenes on behalf of his people!

👉 Whatever weapon the enemy has formed against you – even if it’s a gallows with your name on it built by the second most powerful person in the land – it won’t prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

If you belong to God – the enemy will not overcome you but will, instead, fall before you (v 13).

You are loved.

🎉 Don’t forget to hop over to the Shop and download the brand new Journal With Me – Proverbs! 🎉

Esther 5:1-14

This chapter is a picture of wisdom vs foolishness.

👉 Esther – Wisdom ( v 2-8 )

• won favor in the sight of others (in this case – the king)

• fasted for three days prior to approaching the king (recognized the seriousness of the situation and prayed first)

• approached the king with humility

• exercised patience and restraint

👉 Haman – Foolishness (v 9-14)

• easily angered – from joyful to filled with wrath in a moment

• prideful and boastful

• accepted counsel from the wrong people

• presumed to dictate the king’s decisions

👉 Lord, whatever we encounter today, help us to respond in wisdom with prayer, humility, and patience.

You, friends, are loved, chosen, and of infinite value to your heavenly Father.

Today is the grand opening of the shop!

For all who have asked for my Bible insights and journaling pages to be put together in a concise, downloadable format – this is for you. The first installment of the Journal With Me series – the book of Proverbs – is available for download today.

Hop on over, download the ebook, and enjoy journaling your way through the book of Proverbs today!

Don’t forget to share the news with your friends and check back regularly for more offerings in this series. Book number two is already in the works!

You are loved.

SAMPLE PAGES