Esther 9:21-22
to establish
among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days
of the month of Adar, as the days on which the Jews had rest from their
enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from
mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.
Bible Reading for a Year [bible]prove2[/bible]; [bible]revel8[/bible]; [bible]esthe9-10[/bible]
Having the
right attitude in responding problems is fundamental in obtaining victory. We
should have faith like Mordecai had, when he said to Queen Esther, “For if you
remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for
the Jews from another place,...” Mordecai’s eyes of faith know that God’s help will come, and it enables him to find God’s plan through difficulties.
Don’t we
stuck in problems many times, that we cannot believe in God’s help and then
lose our sensitivity to grasp His plan beyond hardship? We should avoid this
kind of spiritual paralysis. If we cannot trust God for His help, then our
prayer loses its power. Meanwhile, the loss of sensitivity to grasp God’s plan
will paralyze our faith. Besides, we should have perseverance in dealing with
difficulties, such as what Esther had shown us. Problems are not reason for her to stay and do nothing.
On the
contrary, she prepares herself for a price to pay. Instead of merely taking a
step bravely with her logic, she humbly admits that none of her efforts would
work without God’s intervention. Therefore, she notices the prayer and fasting
for three days, which eventually became the gateway for the Lord to give the
victory to his people in the change of sorrowful the month of Adar into joyful
Purim.
When we are
dealing with things out of our control, let us pray and fast. Because by
fasting we are leaving our pride and asking His mercy to change mourning into
dancing, and to change the sorrowful Adar into Purim celebration; the day of
joy and victory!