Week: Justice – Esther
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Mighty God, open our eyes, stir our hearts and teach us how, ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly’ with You today. (Micah 6:8)
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Kate
Psalm 33:5
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:5 (NIV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re continuing to REFLECT on the story of Esther and King Xerxes. Haman was one of King Xerxes advisors, and he hated the Jewish people.
Read by Kate
Esther 3:8-9
Then Haman said to King Xerxes, ‘There is a certain group of people scattered among the other people in all the states of your kingdom. Their customs are different from those of all the other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not right for you to allow them to continue living in your kingdom. If it pleases the king, let an order be given to destroy those people. Then I will pay seven hundred fifty thousand pounds of silver to those who do the king’s business, and they will put it into the royal treasury.’
Esther 3:8-9, (NCV)
In today’s reading we meet Haman, who was an advisor to the King. Haman hated the Jewish people so much he wanted the king to order them all to be killed – just because they believed and lived differently to his own people.
Sadly, people still believe and behave like this today. Some people still hate other people and want to hurt them simply because they are different in some way. This is an example of what’s known as discrimination.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Why do we think some people discriminate against other people?
Let’s think of someone we know who believes something different to us, or follows a different religion.
God of grace, we ask that You would bless them. Help us to treat them, and everyone else who believes different things to us, with kindness and respect.
And now, let’s pray for the work of CSW, Open Doors*, and all the other organisations who work to ensure that no-one is discriminated against because of what they believe.
Lord Jesus, we pray for those who work for these organisations all over the world. Help them as they work with governments and lawmakers to ensure that everyone is free to believe without fear of being treated badly.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Esther 3:8-9
Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain group of people scattered among the other people in all the states of your kingdom. Their customs are different from those of all the other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not right for you to allow them to continue living in your kingdom. If it pleases the king, let an order be given to destroy those people. Then I will pay seven hundred fifty thousand pounds of silver to those who do the king’s business, and they will put it into the royal treasury.”
Esther 3:8-9, (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
God of Justice and Mercy, we say YES to living in a world that is free from fear and discrimination.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 33:5
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:5 (NIV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
* https://www.csw.org.uk/home.htm
** https://www.opendoorsuk.org/
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Kate lives in Melbourne Australia, with her parents, younger sister, and puppy Leo. Kate loves visual arts, reading, playing basketball and spending time with her family.
