Slowing down before moving ahead.

Scripture Read: Esther Chapter 1:19-22 “If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she. ²⁰ “When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.” ²¹ This word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. ²² So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.

Application: There are two different issues that should strike us here. Notice that God uses even evil circumstances to advance His plans. What these princes were doing was not motivated from righteous thoughts – they were self-serving and making sure they kept firm control over their wives. In spite of that though, God used the situation to prepare the way for Esther. How many times do we get stuck looking at the surface circumstances and fail to see the important truths behind them or even fail to pray to our Lord to use the circumstances the way He deems best? The second issue here is one we all really need to learn – when making an important decision make sure your mind is where it should be. This King was drunk – and angry. That is not the time to make a decision. More people have gotten into great trouble because they have made life decisions when drugs, circumstances or emotions controlled their minds. We will never know what this King would have done if he had slowed down and slept on his decision. Yes, we realize that God was working behind the scenes, still – we can learn from his example – that when we make a decision in the heat of emotion we may regret it later. I find it interesting how many times the enemy sends counselors to individuals when they are not ready to handle making a decision. Slow down, take a breath, spend time with God in His Word and talking to Him. It is good to seek godly counsel.  During that time, yield to the Spirit and allow Him to bring your mind under His control, then you will be ready to make your decision and even if it does not go the way you had hoped, you will know that you gave the Lord time to lead you. Whenever I do that – I do not regret, I throw myself at the Father’s throne and ask for His help because I did all I could think to do, so only He must have the answer. The Lord honors that and knows we are finite beings – but if we rush into decisions – He may have to allow us to reap what we sewed, just to teach us and keep us from repeating the same mistake.   

* Meditation Questions: Do you make decisions when really up or down emotionally? If you have made decisions tat you regret, take time to think back and determine what your mental, emotional and spiritual state was at the time. What does this teach you? What reason would you have to not wait and ponder a decision? Are you giving time to allow your flesh to get out of the way and the new man to hear God’s counsel?