Esther

Follow Day 5 Where We See A Mess

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 3:1-14
Exodus 4:1-20
Acts 4:7-13
 1 Corinthians 1:26-30

Follow, Day 5

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.’ This is the Lord’s declaration. ‘For as heaven is higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Who but God would invite an ex- murderer to lead an entire nation? Humans use the past to judge the present, but God sees beyond the past. Regardless of our history, He longs to make us radically new and use us to build His kingdom.

Consider Moses, who grew up in the palace of the Egyptian pharaoh knowing he was a Hebrew. One day, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, and, after carefully ensuring no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian. Still, Pharaoh learned of Moses’ crime and sought to kill him, so Moses fled to Midian. Welcomed into the family of Jethro, a Midian priest, Moses planned to live out his days in the wilderness as an isolated shepherd caring for mangy sheep.

Like Moses, there was a time in my college life when I felt like running away. My boyfriend spent the night with another student in his home, and someone told the school authority I was the student. I was innocent, but unable to convince school leadership. My punishment was a warning; a repeat would earn my dismissal.

I was devastated. In time, bolstered by God’s merciful strength, I ended the relationship. God gave me a new beginning altogether: since then, I have been following Him, and am now in His service.

Similarly, Moses was in desperate need of a new beginning. Moses was content with a shepherd’s life in the bush; one day God appeared to him in a literal bush bursting with fire. God called Moses to Egypt to bring His people out from slavery and into a land of freedom and plenty, a land of promise.

Dismayed, Moses gave God a slew of excuses:

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” (Exodus 3:11)
What if they ask Your name? ( Exodus 3:13-15)
“What if they don’t believe me?” (Exodus 4:1)
I am not eloquent (Exodus 4:10); send someone else (Exodus 4:13).

Looking through the lens of his past, Moses saw himself as unfit for the work God was calling him to do. But despite his resistance, God was not deterred. He promised to be with Moses, and commissioned Moses’ brother, Aaron, as his spokesman. God also understood the physical fear hiding behind Moses’ excuses, and assured him those who sought to kill him were dead.

We cannot mess up God’s plan for us, even if we push against Him!
He refuses to give up on us because He looks not at our mess, but our potential in Him.

As Moses’ heart turned toward trusting obedience to God, he encountered God in a personal and powerful way. He received instruction and clear direction from God for his next steps. When he met resistance in Pharaoh, he sought God who faithfully met and guided him. Soon, the naïve and fearful man became a threat to Pharaoh and all of Egypt, until Pharaoh released the Israelites.

Sometimes, our past failures threaten to hold us back from following God. The past upsets us, and we lose confidence. Like Moses, we easily conclude we cannot be useful to God. Moses didn’t have an organized plan, talent, or the confidence of a leader, but God still invited him to follow. It was not about Moses, but about God. He chooses the foolish, the weak, and the despised to shame the wise and the mighty, so we boast in Him alone. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

Regardless of our past, God forgives completely, and equips us by His power for His service as we choose to follow His way. We see this truth in the lives of the apostles. Some were mere fishermen; one was even a tax collector, considered by the Jews as the most sinful; yet Jesus called each of them to follow Him. When the Pharisees grumbled about Jesus dining with sinners, Jesus replied His call was precisely for sinners such as them. (Mark 2:15-17)

Consider the Apostle Paul, a persecutor of the Church; yet God called him out of slavery and empowered him with the Holy Spirit to follow Him in freedom. As a result, Paul became a great preacher of the gospel. His Spirit-inspired writings continue to guide our lives today, comprising a large part of the New Testament.

Hear Paul’s own testimony, “This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–and I am the worst of them.’”
(1 Timothy 1:15)

Moses’ story, the first 12 apostles, Paul, and even my own life, join together to declare in wondrous chorus . . .
Where we see a mess,
God sees an opportunity for transformation.

God simply requires hearts willing to accept His invitation to follow Him, one step after the other.

Sisters, let us turn our eyes from our pasts to the One who holds our tomorrows and whisper, “Yes.”

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Follow Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Follow!

The GT Weekend! ~ Esther Week 3

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) How often would we rather avenge our own justice and make someone else see the folly of their ways when viewed through the lens of our own perspective? Um, Yes, Me, all the time! The reality is that, as much as we would like it to, avenging ourselves neither honors the other person nor God, and not even ourselves! God is the only just judge, it is His alone to repay and bring justice. Whose names are popping into your head as those you’d like to see come to justice? Maybe it’s a relationship you’re currently in, or maybe it’s one from the past that has left you wounded. Take some much-needed time before the Lord today to bring those people to the throne of God, surrendering them in faith that God will act justly.

2) On the whole, Esther’s story is one of radical redemption. Full of mind-blowing plot twists to keep any reader on the edge of their seat. If it was your story on display, what would be the plot twists for onlookers to wonder what will happen? Where are those dark corners that silently scream for redemption, but have maybe turned into cobwebs of hopeless resignation? What would it take for you to choose to surrender the drama of your story to the hands of the One who died to bring you redemption, even in the darkest of corners?

3) Esther’s heroic faith and Mordecai’s humble, wise bravery were tools God used to set His people free from the death sentence of Haman’s plot to eradicate the Jews. The celebration of freedom has rung every year in an annual celebration since that age-old victory. The story of Esther mirrors the victory story for every believer as we were once sentenced to death by Sin, but set free to an endless, rich inheritance in Christ! One of the best ways we can celebrate our freedom is by telling our story. Pray boldly this weekend for God to bring you an opportunity for you to share your freedom story! Then, step up and celebrate!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Revelation 7:9-10 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Prayer Journal
Truly, no mind can possibly comprehend the greatness You have prepared for that final glorious day when every saint, from every time, is finally gathered together as Your Bride to give You glory and praise! You will bind us together as One Beautiful Body, with Yourself as the Head, and oh how we will dance and celebrate in the Victory You purchased for us with Your precious blood! Oh Father, how the now matters to the then! Now is the time to declare Your victory to all. Now is the opportunity to be welcomed into freedom that will never end! May we be faithful stewards of this Hope You have entrusted to us, Lord. Spirit, may we give You freedom to speak and move in our lives to make You known!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Esther Day 15 A Legacy Of Celebration

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 9:16-10:3
Psalm 78:1-8
Ephesians 1:3-14
Ephesians 2:1-9

Esther, Day 15

Mordecai went from the king’s presence clothed in royal purple and white, with a great gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen.  The city of Susa shouted and rejoiced, and the Jews celebrated with gladness, joy, and honor.  In every province and every city, wherever the king’s command and his law reached, joy and rejoicing took place among the Jews.  There was a celebration and a holiday. Esther 8:15-16 

The Jews had much to celebrate!
Imagine receiving a death sentence from a power-hungry leader for no other reason except he didn’t like your people. Imagine the fear and despair you’d feel; hopeless and helpless to save yourself or those you love.  Then you receive word of a new law to counter the first one and the leader being punished; you and your people are free!

There was rejoicing and shouting and celebrating going on in Susa!
Thanks to the courage of Esther, as she followed Mordecai’s wisdom and was covered by prayer and fasting of the Jewish people, God rescued His chosen people.  I doubt there is anyone who would look unfavorably upon them or think their celebration was too extravagant. I doubt the Jewish people themselves were concerned with how they were perceived by others.  Their death was imminent, but they had been spared!

After the Jews were saved from destruction, the holiday, Purim, was established and is still celebrated by Jews today.  The holiday is a joyous one, preceded by a day of fasting as they remember how the Jews fasted and prayed for Esther as she approached the king. The story of Esther may be read as they remember from where they have come, and from where their Help came. They rest and feast and celebrate! The celebration was a decree and was established as an official holiday so future generations would not forget the great rescue. Esther 9:27-28

Sometimes we forget how we, too, have been spared.
Ephesians 2 tells us that, as sinners, we are also dead, eternally separated from God because of our unrighteousness. We had no access to God and His holiness, and were destined to face eternity apart from Him.  But in His great mercy, God sent Jesus to rescue us so we can have a restored relationship with Him. We are made alive in Christ! Ephesians 2:1-9  That is reason to celebrate!

How can we celebrate?
One way is to share your story.

Every single Christ-follower has a story worthy of celebratory re-telling!
At one point we were all separated from God because of our sin.  Then, He, in His infinite grace, sent His only Son to take our sin upon Himself and put it to death on the cross.
Not only did He die for our sins, but He defied the enemy who thought he had won by rising from the grave, forever to live with our Father God in Heaven where He continues to fight for us.  Out of great love, He left His Holy Spirit to personally live inside each one who calls on His name. The Spirit guides into Truth and fills us with power to do the work He has called each of us to do.

He invited us into His story so we may draw others to Him as well.
As we share what He has done for us, others see His faithfulness and are drawn into a relationship with Him as well.

At the very moment we decide to follow Jesus with our whole being, our faith stories don’t end, but are only beginning! He continues the work in our hearts and lives through the Holy Spirit so we may encourage others and grow closer to Him as we journey through life.  He provides us encouragement while challenging us to lean on Him during trial so we can encourage others in their growth. I know it encourages me in difficult times to hear how God is moving in the lives of others, especially if I’m walking a path similar to another’s. As we continue to share our stories, God is glorified and we can celebrate together who He is and all He has done for us.

I’ve been convicted recently about how little I share my story of faith and growth.
Also, how infrequently I ask others about their journey.
Perhaps it’s fear of rejection or being thought too “religious”, or maybe I just don’t pay enough attention to those around me to be sensitive to what God is doing.

What if we spent some time in the mornings inviting God into our days,
thanking Him for the work He has done in our own hearts,
and asking Him to specifically show us someone who needs to hear the hope of the Gospel? What if we were intentionally open to readily sharing how God has proven Himself real in our own lives?
It may feel risky, but we have much to share with great reason to celebrate our Rescuer!
The God who created the universe invites each of us into a relationship with Him!

Who needs to hear about the hope that lives within you?
Who might God want you to share your story with so they can know Him?
Who in your life needs to be encouraged that God is still good and still at work?
Whose life will be forever changed because you chose to share?
Do your children know your own faith story so they are able to continue your legacy of faith to future generations?

The next time you hear about Esther and her reason to celebrate with her people, remember you have even more reason to declare the goodness of God!
Celebrate out loud for the world to hear!

A P.S. from Gracefully Truthful….
Maybe, you’ve never told your story to anyone before; today is a great day to start!
We want to make it easy for you to get started and we would be honored to help you share boldly through the Faces of Grace platform.
Check out the “Get Started” tips, then send in your story and begin celebrating out loud what God has done!


Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Esther Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Esther!

Esther Day 14 A Story For The Ages: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out A Story For The Ages!

The Questions

1) Who is the “we” and why were we helpless?

2) Why is it important that Christ came “while we were still sinners”?

3) What should the response be to these verses?

Romans 5:6-11

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Original Intent

1) Who is the “we” and why were we helpless?
Paul opens chapter 5 by addressing those who are declared righteous by faith, that is, all believers who have fully trusted Christ for their salvation after recognizing their own sinfulness and inability to save themselves from the consequences of sin. He is writing specifically to believers in Rome, a group of mostly Gentiles although there were some Jews as well. The “we” he is addressing are those who believe in Jesus and have been saved through faith. That leaves the question why were those who believe helpless. Paul is referring back to their lives before faith. He is reminding them Jesus came with the plan of paying the price for their sins when they were still helpless and unsaved.

2) Why is it important that Christ came “while we were still sinners”?
As Paul addresses the believers in Rome, he reminds them Jesus came to pay the price for their sins while they were still in the midst of their sin. God knew they would never be “good” enough on their own, but because of the love He had for His creation He sent Christ to show that love and redeem them even when His creation was not expressing love back to Him. He knew many would come to Him and accept His gift of love, but He also was willing to die while knowing that many would still choose to reject Him. He was willing to pay the ultimate price of death in our place, a sentence He did not deserve, God’s perfection and holiness required justice and Jesus came to be that justice. Christ’s humble willingness to lay aside His rights as God (while still maintaining His absolute divinity) and sacrifice Himself while we still chose sin, emphasizes how there is absolutely nothing we can ever do to earn our own salvation. Every part of it is God and His work, not ours.

3) What should the response be to these verses?
Paul states pretty clearly in verse 11 what our response should be. The sacrifice of Jesus should lead to rejoicing. Paul wants his readers to remember what Jesus did for them and be overwhelmingly grateful. He is reminding them their sins have been paid for and their relationship to God is restored. They are a new creation and reconciliation has taken place! He literally saved their lives and redeemed them from the death they should have been responsible to pay by allowing Jesus to die that death in their place. Now all that is left to do is rejoice and live a life honoring to that truth.

Everyday Application

1) Who is the “we” and why were we helpless?
While the immediate “we” was the believers in Rome, believers today also fit into this word. Paul is addressing all believers and so his words are just as important to us as they were to his first audience. We are helpless, just as those original believers, because without the grace of Jesus paying the price for our sins, we are left without hope. That’s an important realization! You and I are completely helpless to save ourselves. There is nothing we can pay in our own merit that will cover our sins and repair our relationship to the Father. Ever! We are absolutely helpless if left on our own because each of us are sinners, which means we will never be flawless and holy. We are helpless. We need Jesus and the gift He offers in salvation in order to have a restored right relationship with God; the gift of His death in our place is the only way to be made right with God because God’s justice requires a perfect sacrifice. Only Jesus, as fully God and fully man, who never chose sin, but always chose obedience to God’s will, is the only one who can possibly fulfill all of God’s righteous requirements as a holy sacrifice.

2) Why is it important that Christ came “while we were still sinners”?
“While we were still sinners…” Let those words sink in for a moment. Christ came, willing to die for our sins and redeem us, while we were still sinners. There is such incredible news in that statement! So often we think we must clean ourselves up and become “better” people before we can be worthy of the love of Jesus. We feel there is work we must do. However, that is completely untrue! Paul reminds us Christ came in the midst of our sin in order to pay the price we could never pay. He didn’t wait for us to realize our lostness or to try and fix ourselves on our own. He didn’t even wait until we realized how desperate we were or the despair we were in because of our sin. He did not wait for us to cry out to Him, He first loved us by giving Himself for us! (1 John 4:19) God knew from the beginning of Creation that Adam and Eve would choose to sin and He already had a plan to redeem His creation back to Himself. His plan was always Jesus, but Jesus came in the midst of sin to take on the consequence of sin He did not deserve, but we did. All we need to do is accept the gift of salvation being offered to us no matter where we are in life or what our life looks like. For such a rich gift, we should be utterly grateful, and give our lives to Him and His service because He has been so good and kind!

3) What should the response be to these verses?
We were given the ultimate gift. We owed death and Jesus paid it. There isn’t anything better to receive than life itself! Our response should be nothing less than complete rejoicing! There should be a thankfulness that pours out of our souls for the gift we have been given. We deserve to spend eternity separated from God, and instead, Jesus provided complete reconciliation through His death. We now have a new life and the ability to live in relationship to God! When we live in this understanding, it creates both a thankfulness and obedient action. We should not be able to contain the joy in our lives that stems from this restoration and we should desire to share it with any and all who will listen. As we live in this right relationship with God, others begin to see we are different from the world. We should be jumping to share this amazing news with them! Our response is rejoicing, but this rejoicing should lead to action to bring salvation to a lost world. I challenge myself, and each of you, to ask who are you sharing this amazing truth with?

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with A Story For The Ages!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Esther Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Esther Day 13 A Story For The Ages

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 8:3-9:22   
Psalm 30:1-12
Romans 5:6-11
Revelation 7:9-17
Matthew 28:19-20

Esther, Day 13

If you were writing a story and handpicking your hero, you might choose someone strong, smart, handsome, and brave.  I am guessing you probably wouldn’t go with a teenage orphan girl living with her uncle as refugees in a foreign land.
Only God, the master Story writer, would do that!

And only God would ordain to use a massive plot twist where the girl is unwillingly entered into a beauty contest, wins, and is then crowned Queen for His glory.  Adding to the suspense, an evil palace official plots to annihilate the girl’s entire race, and successfully wins the king’s approval of his plan.

In this action-packed thriller, we anxiously turn the pages, eager to know if the girl will risk her life and go before the king. Will he extend his golden scepter, giving her the chance to expose the villain and save her nation?
Or will he order her instant execution?
The fate of millions lies in the balance.

If you have been following our Journey Study through Esther, you’ve watched this young teenager overcome fear and step up to daunting challenges.  She has wisely listened to Uncle Mordecai and humbly accepted God’s sovereign rule in her life. We sigh with relief as King Xerxes welcomes Esther into his throne room and celebrate as wicked Haman was removed from power, permanently.

But there’s no “happily ever after” here…
An irreversible royal edict had been issued, thanks to Haman, declaring the destruction of Jews everywhere.

In Esther 8, our heroine risks her life again, going before the king to beg a new decree be issued to counteract Haman’s orders. Xerxes graciously extends his scepter, allowing Esther to compose a new decree hereby giving Jews the freedom to defend their lives.

Just as Haman’s original edict was written in the “scripts and languages” in every province, so too was Esther’s NEW decree.

Just as Haman’s letter had been sealed with the king’s signet ring and swiftly dispatched to the entire empire, so too was the NEW decree.

Just as the king’s highest officers from India to Ethiopia all received word of Haman’s law, so now they were handed the NEW decree.

What Haman intended for evil, God would use for grand redemption!

When Haman’s decree was issued, “the city of Susa fell into confusion.”  (Esther 3:15)
Redemptively, Esther’s decree was celebrated, “And the people of Susa celebrated the new decree.  The Jews were filled with joy and gladness and were honored everywhere.”  (Esther 8:15-16)

Now, rather than deliberate genocide, the Jews are permitted self-defense!!!
In place of death, life!  Despair is replaced with hope!

 “I will exalt you, Lord, for You rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me…
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.”
(Psalm 30:1, 11)

The day of attack arrives, and both decrees are put into effect, “the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened.
It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies.” (Esther 9:1)

 VICTORY!
The Jews “celebrated their victory with a day of feasting and gladness.”

I’ve known about Esther since girlhood.
Our fourth daughter even has the middle name Esther.
While I thought I understood her story, it wasn’t until I prepared to write this Journey Study I began realizing the scope of God’s ETERNAL plan.

From Genesis to Revelation, God is at work, masterfully arranging every piece, telling His ULTIMATE story.

As I studied, I discovered how pieces of Esther’s story connect to Jesus’ birth, the Great Commission, and our own final VICTORIOUS REDEMPTION!

Esther’s decree was written in EVERY language for ALL people.
In the same way, the angels’ triumphant tidings to the shepherds the night Jesus was born proclaimed, “I bring you good news of great joy to ALL people!”
Their message, and the Messiah, were for EVERYONE and ALL.

So too, Jesus’ final words encompass ALL people as He sends His disciples to EVERYONE, “go and make disciples of ALL nations.”

Finally, in Revelation, John describes the scene of our very great redemption, our final victory, “After this, I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from EVERY nation, from ALL tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” 

Salvation is for EVERYONE.
Regardless of age, race, gender, social-economic status, or academic degree,
YOU are loved by God and invited into His salvation.

Haman’s decree was one of death.
Likewise, we have an enemy plotting our destruction. Because of our sin, we’ve already earned death.
BUT hope is NOT lost!

While Esther risked her life for her people and issued an edict countering Haman’s wickedness, Jesus surrendered His life for ours, taking our death for us.
With His resurrection on Easter morning, death was forever defeated.
Now, we ALL have access to LIFE!

The KING has extended His scepter, eagerly waiting for your response!
What will you choose?

If you’ve already chosen life, another challenge awaits.
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul shares a profound truth about believers, “you are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God..”

Esther acted with urgency to save her people, so WE must have an urgency about us.
EVERYone EVERYwhere needs to hear about Life offered in place of Death.
We are those message carriers to ALL!

If He can use a refugee orphan girl, make her Queen, and use her to save an entire people group, I am POSITIVE He can use YOU to share the gospel with your neighbor, co-worker, estranged aunt, child’s teacher, or the barista at your favorite coffee shop.

“And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?!”

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Esther Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Esther!

Esther Day 12 Honor And Justice: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Honor And Justice!

The Questions

1) What did Jesus mean in verse 23 when He said, “the hour has come”?

2) What do verses 27-28 indicate about why Jesus’ soul was troubled?

3) The word “now” is used three times in verses 27-31. What is its significance in the context of the passage?

John 12:23-32

23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 27 “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.

Original Intent

1) What did Jesus mean in verse 23 when He said, “the hour has come”?
All of the synoptic Gospels (which include Matthew, Mark & Luke) quote Jesus speaking about “the hour.” Previously in John, we read the time had “not yet come”. (John 7:6, John 7:30, John 8:20). Jesus was continually communicating the profound significance of “the hour”. By the time of his writing, John has recognized the importance of “the hour” by dedicating almost half of his Gospel to Christ’s last week. Jesus knew that everything would happen when it should, and not before (John 2:4). He was obedient to God in everything He said and did, and God was glorified as a result. (John 12:28, John 17:4) Jesus had come into the world for “this hour.” (Galatians 4:4-5). In verse 23, Jesus begins to unveil how the hour is now approaching that He has spoken of to His disciples and others (John 4:23-25). In the days following, the words Jesus spoke and the events that occurred would reveal what “hour has come” and why it was necessary. Jesus had come to reveal and glorify the Father, and to reconcile to Him those who would believe (John 13:1-7, John 16:25-33, John 17:1-5) Commentator, Leon Morris, said about these verses, “the hour has come and is staying with us. There is no going back on it.”

2) What do verses 27-28 indicate about why Jesus’ soul was troubled?
Jesus knew the time had come for Him to complete the mission to which He had been called by dying the humble death of a servant. (John 12:24-26, Philippians 2:5-8) He had told the disciples that “the hour” had come, though He had not made it clear what He meant. Though Jesus mentioned that Mary’s kind gesture earlier (of anointing Him) was in preparation of His burial, those around Him were still very unaware of the implications of His death. Commentators remind us that the Gospels are not primarily focused on a timeline of events, but are intently focused on telling us Who Jesus is and what His purpose was for coming. (bible.org) Every person eventually dies, but Jesus is the only one who was born TO die. Dressed bodily in “genuine humanity” and surrounded by those He loved, Jesus was feeling the sorrow anyone would feel. Though we should be careful not to describe Jesus’ humanity and divinity as a mixed blend forming some kind of divine and human composition. His attributes of being fully God while also fully man are united in His one Being. (The Moody Handbook of Theology) Jesus knew the Father’s will was to crush and wound Him for our healing (Isaiah 53:5-10). He loved mankind, and though His very purpose was to bring the Father glory, His humanity dreaded the painful sorrow He faced. He would demonstrate the depths of His agony later at Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:38-39)

3) The word “now” is used three times in verses 27-31. What is its significance in the context of the passage?
Jesus said, “Now my soul is troubled …” and “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” Often, in the Scriptures we see the word “now”. Here the same Greek word is used all three times. That’s important because it’s an adverb in these verses (Greek, adverb νῦν), unlike other times when its used as a conjunction, as in Hebrews 11:1 in which it is a connecting word and not denoting time. Jesus is not simply bridging thoughts. He is declaring that soon His work on earth will be complete and that the enemy is going to be defeated through that work. Although redemption is the most significant completion of His task, Christ finished other things at the cross. (John 19:28-10) His sufferings, endured on earth as a human, were now over. The perfect obedience of the Son to the Father resulted in the completed task of defeating sin and death. (John 6:35-38, Colossians 2:14-15)

Everyday Application

1) What did Jesus mean in verse 23 when He said, “the hour has come”?
A resurrected Lazarus had given the skeptics and the critics fits! There was quite a stir about the event, and some began to follow Jesus as a result. Several times in the Gospels, Jesus was “interrupted” by someone with a need. He was always so merciful to respond, sometimes to the frustration of His disciples. Now, Jesus must look straight ahead to His task of sacrifice on the cross. And how thankful I am! Because this time, I am the recipient of His mercy. Jesus’ obedience to go all the way to cross meant my salvation. His submission to the Father led to glory for God and honor for us who partake of His mercy. What a remarkable thought! As a Christ-follower, we receive honor from the Father, which is the result of our new identity in Christ now. Because of Christ, we receive glory. And His example of giving up His life shows us that we must do the same. “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

2) What do verses 27-28 indicate about why Jesus’ soul was troubled?
Jesus was fully human. The prospect of a coming death which included certain suffering caused a blunt revulsion within His humanity. John’s purpose for writing his book was so everyone who read it “may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing may have life in His name.” (John 20:29) John also wanted his reader to grasp the humanity of the One who died for us. Jesus’ humanity is seen throughout so much of the apostle’s writings. Jesus got hungry and thirsty, He cried, and He felt compassion for those who were far from God. At some point in our lives, we all probably wonder why deep pain comes into our lives. Pain and suffering prompt valid questions. The problem with us is we often demand an answer instead of submitting to God’s sovereign plan. Christ was troubled deep within His soul, but when it came to His darkest hour of decision, He said “not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

3) The word “now” is used three times in verses 27-31. What is its significance in the context of the passage?
It IS finished! The significance of the word “now” means everything to those of us who have trusted in Christ’s work. Jesus said His life was not taken from Him. He willingly offered up His life at just the right time. (Romans 5:6) His attitude is now the standard for all believers in every area of life: family conflicts, ethics, responding to our enemies, interpreting suffering. The lyrics to a Big Daddy Weave song say it perfectly. I am able to confidently share the amazing news that is my story, and it’s the story of all the redeemed.
If I told you my story, you would hear victory over the enemy.
And if I told you my story, you would hear freedom that was won for me.
And if I told you my story, you would hear how life overcome the grave!
If I should speak then let it be of the grace that is greater than all my sin;
of when justice was served and where mercy wins;
of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in.
Oh, to tell you my story is to tell of Him!
THIS is my story; this is my song! Praising my Savior all the day long!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Honor And Justice!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Esther Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Esther Day 11 Honor And Justice

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 4:12-17
Esther 6:14-8:2
Genesis 45:4-11
John 12:23-32
Romans 5:6-8

Esther, Day 11

It’s inevitable, really. About a year into a new, full-time job, and I start getting antsy. As soon as I have my feet on the ground and start feeling comfortable,
I begin feeling, well… uncomfortable.

I want more.
I want to be challenged and grow and learn more. I want to do something that brings about a real difference, making me excited to wake up and get out of bed.

Plus, I get frustrated.
Frustrated with my situation.
Frustrated with myself for my inability to be content.
If I’m honest, I’m even frustrated with God for not paving a golden highway towards a meaningful, fulfilling job that fuels my passions.

We have seen throughout this Journey Theme, that step by step, Esther chose honor as she acted wisely. From the moment she was brought to the King’s palace, she chose honor and lived out wisdom. She showed discretion in not revealing her faith or Jewish heritage and chose just the right moment to intercede on behalf of her people before King Xerxes. She didn’t see what the Lord was preparing her to do, in fact there were times she could have lost her life, but consistently, she took the next best step as she honored the Lord, her faith, her family, and her people.

Mordecai did the same. He chose to honor the Lord above men. He refused cultural pressures to bow down to anyone but the One True God. He neither demanded nor expected honor and elevated position, instead he waited patiently for God’s timing and His plans. Mordecai chose eternal reward over earthly gain.

Scripture does not once mention either Esther or Mordecai rolling their eyes, crossing their arms, or stomping their feet, but we see plenty of it coming from Haman, a man who loved himself the most. For Mordecai and Esther, their disciplined practice of choosing God’s ways and wisdom over their own won out every time. Oh to be as humble!

Cast among the players of a people who had largely forgotten about God, Mordecai and Esther obediently honored God by using their positions wisely and trusting Him with the details of redemption. While they weren’t people without flaws (sound like anyone you know?), God still chose to use them and their circumstances to further His Kingdom and rescue a people.
Their intentional daily steps led to a shake-up of culture around them and ultimately, justice and mercy for their persecuted people.

God even brings His perfectly timed justice through the downfall and death of Haman and his sinful choices. After realizing Haman was responsible for the impending destruction of Esther’s people (the Jews), King Xerxes executed him. Through Haman’s death, justice was served and the way was paved for redemption of God’s chosen people.

We see God consistently doing this kind of radical redemption as He sovereignly weaves together His story all throughout Scripture. Before Esther, Joseph is put through the ringer after being sold into slavery by his brothers, imprisoned, and all but sentenced to death. In wisdom and goodness, God placed Joseph in the perfect place at the perfect time to use his gifts as he saved a nation, rescued his family, and redemption was  unleashed.

Then, there’s Jesus, our precious Savior. The pinnacle of God’s story to bring justice to sin, redemption for all people, and honor to His name.

I was brought to tears when reading through these verses from John 12:27-28
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

Jesus knew He would die.
He knew His death would involve intense suffering and painful separation from God the Father. He even knew the putrid details of all my sin and yours. Yet, He chose to honor His Father above all else in order to bring justice with death and resurrection.

I don’t think my discontentment with my job will go away.
And even if it does, discontentment about something else will take its place.

I believe my restlessness is part of how God designed me to want more than what this world has to offer, to not be complacent, and long to bring my God honor and glorify the name of Jesus.

I will remember that God has placed me right where I am for this hour.
For such a time and place as this, because my God loves to redeem, and He uses His people to do that great work!

Where has God placed you?
How can you honor Him where you are?
What is your next right step in obedience?

Lord, you went before me and prepared the way for me. It is so clear to me how you have prepared my heart and my circumstances along the way to prepare me for such a time as this. Help me to honor you each step of the way.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Esther Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Esther!

The GT Weekend! ~ Esther Week 2

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Authentic transparency is one of our core values at Gracefully Truthful because none is more authentic and vulnerable than God Himself. In our culture, we don’t glorify messy, hard things that bring great personal cost. But following Jesus, involves cost, every single time. From the moment we say yes to Jesus, we are called to surrender everything, giving up control of our entire lives. This isn’t a popular, feel-good Christian slogan, but it is the truth. We cannot afford to gloss over the cost of following Jesus, but neither can we ignore the unsurpassable great reward that comes from giving up everything for Him. Where have you seen great reward from saying yes to Jesus? Where is He calling you to surrender?

2) In your life, where have you seen the intersection of painful brokenness and genuine praise play out? When troubles hit the ship of our life, the reality of where we truly anchor our heart is made evident. When life is going well, it’s easy to say, “God is my hope and my strength!”, but when suffering, fear, and brokenness storm our sails, we either cling to the Lord, choosing to praise Him for Who He is, or we fight to swim on our own strength. If you’re in a time of smooth sailing, make intentional decisions to cultivate your relationship with God. If storms are slamming you, surround yourself with solid friends who love Jesus and love you, and will keep pointing you towards the truth of God’s character!

3) At key points all along her epic journey, Esther had the ultimatum of either choosing wisdom or walking in the wisdom of her own eyes, motivated by her fear. She beautifully chose wisdom each time, even though she clearly struggled to surrender her fear at some points. Wisdom adorned her like a beautiful crown and arrested the attention of people around her while opening the way for her people to be rescued. Who do you admire and respect because of their consistent decision to live wisely. Take the time this weekend and write them a note, giving specific reasons why you are grateful for their wisdom. Then set out to ask the Lord to make you wise and gracious while surrendering your own fears!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Proverbs 1:8-9 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.

Prayer Journal
How good and kind You are to hold out wisdom to us, Lord, while also helping us slowly understand how foolish we are without You! Teach our hearts to be humble, to elevate you, and see our own wisdom apart from You as being foolishness. Make our hearts hungry for You alone! It’s so easy for me to think about my outer self, whether in appearance or in mannerisms, and how I will be received by others. Teach me to seek after the true, lasting beauty of Your wisdom and grace, and use it to point others to You and Your glory!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Esther Dy 10 Wisdom: The Best Adornment

2 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 4:12-5:14
Proverbs 3:1-12
Proverbs 1:1-9

Esther, Day 10

“Oh Lord, please give me wisdom and discernment!
I know Your plans for me are far greater than any I could imagine.
I recognize how I need to know Your thoughts in this scenario.
Are You leading me to this?
What does it look like to walk this out?

Lord, I sense the outcome of this present possibility has the potential to impact the rest of my life, so the need to hear from You weighs heavy on my mind today.
Guide my feet, steady my heart, tune my ears to hear Your voice.”

The sound of my pen moving across my journal pages filled the air around me as I wrote these words and poured out my heart before the Lord. While an element of me felt somewhat overdramatic at my thoughts, another part resonated so fiercely with the significance of this season I knew not to take my journaling lightly.

When I no longer sensed any more words to pour out before Him, I set my journal aside and opened my laptop to begin working on this Journey Study. Have you ever had one of those moments in which the Lord heard and answered you before you even prayed?
This particular assignment has been in my hands for several months and it is today I opened my Bible to truly soak in the verses.

There, nestled in the middle of the Old Testament, I found another brave soul navigating the journey placed before her, a journey where literal life and death hung in the balance. Had Esther kept a journal, our words may have paralleled one another in unique ways.

In the three short chapters leading up to where we find ourselves in chapter four, Esther has lost the only family she’s known, won the longest version of the Bachelor ever, become queen of a nation and wife to a very powerful man ruled by the law of the land, and successfully kept her true heritage a secret from all in the palace. While that is enough fodder for multiple full-length movies, the plot thickens. Haman, an Agagite, who has a serious vendetta against the Jewish population in Susa and has been aggravated by one specific Jew (Mordecai) who refuses to cower before him, has gained the ear of the King. Enjoying his position, and fueled by his hatred for Jews, manages to convince King Ahaseurus to send out an edict stating all Jews to be attacked on a specific day. In essence, a mass genocide has just been approved and declared to the entire country. Esther, who is a Jew, and all of her kinsmen suddenly have targets strapped to them as the day draws closer.

This is where we find ourselves as the curtain opens on Esther 4:12. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, sends her a message that sums up her past while prophesying her future without an altered course of action. “If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for a such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

Esther responded by fasting and praying for three days before going to the king. She knew the law stated that anyone who approached the king without being summoned, would likely be killed.  Rather than dismiss Mordecai’s pleading message, her immediate response to his message spoke of a beauty that went more than skin deep.
Esther understood the value of wisdom and sought it earnestly.

It was her first beauty treatment in preparation to go before the king.
When was the last time that we thought of seeking wisdom
as an element of beauty?

In Proverbs, listening to father’s instruction and a mother’s teaching is referred to as “a garland of favor on your head and pendants around your neck.”  (Proverbs 1:9)
Seeking wisdom and instruction brings beauty and leads to beautiful outcomes
when applied to a life.

In Esther’s story, she followed Mordecai’s instruction and sought the wisdom of the Lord. Through that process, the Lord poured out a courage and discernment that granted her favor with the king. Her interactions with the king and Haman resulted in an edict giving Jews permission to defend themselves on the day of their would-be-massacre.

Esther’s beauty was a key piece of the puzzle in finding herself living in the palace and married to the king. However, it was not her outward beauty that enabled her to advocate for her people; it was the beauty of her wisdom. Her time spent in the presence of the Lord, seeking His guidance, made all the difference.

The Lord’s wisdom comes through reading His Word, spending time talking with Him, and seeking the direction of mature Christians to name a few key resources. Proverbs 3 tells us to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways and He will make our paths straight.
Isn’t that a beautiful promise and thought?

Do you find yourself in a similar season of needing the wisdom of the Lord?
Seek His wisdom and submit yourself to His direction.
Be astounded at the beauty He brings forth and wear His wisdom well!


Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Esther Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Esther!