For Such A Time As This...

Esther 4:14 "Don't think that just because you live in the king's house you're the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this."

Some girlfriends and I have been going through the book of Esther following along with Beth Moore’s teachings.  This phrase <for such a time as this > is probably the most powerful in the whole book. Esther had a purpose to fulfill, and it required a difficult decision. She tried to run from it because of fear that she would lose her life – but the purpose of her life became greater than her fear.

Beth Moore said this “None of our purposes will be fulfilled easily. All of them will require the most difficult decisions we think we can make. Decisions that we may feel will practically kill us. Then God does something miraculous and we become something we’re not…”

Man… that is strong. There have been so many times I have had that feeling of conviction or leading that “throbbed relentlessly” in my chest. The kind that won’t stop until you obey or -God forbid- ignore until it goes away (you don’t want to go there).
Sometimes taking that step of obedience makes you feel like you could throw up… I always think I could relate with Jonah at these moments, running away… wishing you could hide from the ‘call’ of God.

However, the beauty of it is IN the obedience. Remember, we are created for HIS purpose.
Philipians 2:13 says “it is God who works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure”

Every time you obey, you will find JOY on the other side, because you are acting on what you were created to do! We don’t fully know ALL that God has called us to, but as we take each step in obedience, the call of God becomes a little clearer. The piece of clay looks a little more like the masterpiece it is intended to be!!

Be quick to obey when you sense a leading from the Holy Spirit today… great or small. Practicing in the small areas helps us when the big ones come…. and they will come. For you were called FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!
 

Use Your Fighting Words!

Ever wish there was an on/off switch to your thoughts? Like they're just coming so fast you don't know how to stop them? Maybe your thoughts have caused you to loose sleep, brought on fear, stole your confidence, or even destroyed your hope.
There are days when I'm strong in faith I'm doing great, trusting God... and then there are other days when my thoughts seem like they are shouting at me, telling me my dreams of having a baby will never happen.  If I CHOOSE to let them talk to me - I start to believe them; instead I have to CHOOSE to believe what God says and not what my thoughts are telling me. It really IS a choice.

Being a Kindergarten, I can hear my name repeated a million times a minute... Mrs. Zinn!, Mrs. Zinn!, Mrs. Zinn! Mrs. Zinn! Mrs. Zinn! Mrs. Zinn! Mrs. Zinn! ( not kidding). Sometimes it happens when you are obviously busy doing something else. If I do not address the child, he/she will not stop, I can not stay silent.

It is the same with thoughts that are pulling you down and trying to lie to you- YOU CAN NOT STAY SILENT. This is when you must use your fighting words. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but MIGHTY in God...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."  

You can never defeat the enemy in your mind, you MUST fight him with your WORDS because "faith comes by hearing" Rom. 10:17 Your mind needs to hear it! Hear what??? the Word of God! So find the scriptures you need to back up what you are facing and need faith for. Post them around where you will constantly see them... and SAY them out loud. It will take perseverance as you renew your mind, so be quick to get on it every time the thoughts come. Take EVERY thought captive!

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is FAITHFUL!!