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 REFLECTING on Esther’s decision to ask King Xerxes to save her people.
Read by Kate
Esther 4:15-17
Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: ‘Go and get all the Jewish people in Susa together. For my sake, fast; do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my servant girls will also fast. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I die, I die.’ So Mordecai went away and did everything Esther had told him to do.
Esther 4:15-17 (NCV)
Asking the King to save the Jewish people was no small thing. In fact, making any request of the King was against the law. Esther knew that God would need to work a miracle for the King to grant her this request. So she sent word to her people to fast from food and drink as a way of asking God to act.
It’s interesting that God isn’t named at all in the book of Esther, but God was clearly at work in and through her life. It can feel a bit like that for us too. We can’t always see where God is or what God’s doing, but He’s always at work in and through our lives!
Fasting is when we give something up for a period of time, usually food. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we fasted, or just given something up for a period of time? Was it easy, or was it difficult?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others…
Heavenly Father, we thank You that even if we can’t see where You are, or what You’re doing, You’re always at work. We ask You to help us notice You at work in our lives and in our world, and help us to remember that when we stand up for justice we are partnering with You.
Let’s think of a justice issue in the world around us – one that’s so big it will take a miracle for change to happen. It might be Climate Change, or the lack of access to education for young girls, or homelessness? Perhaps God is speaking to us about committing to pray for this issue, or even doing something about it?
Lord God, we know that there are some problems in our world so big that they desperately need Your power to bring about change. We pray now for the big justice issues in our world and say, Come, Lord Jesus.
Let’s write what we’ve been praying about onto our piece of paper or our Post-it note and then stick it somewhere we’ll see it every day as a prayer prompt.
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 4:15-17
Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: ‘Go and get all the Jewish people in Susa together. For my sake, fast; do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my servant girls will also fast. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I die, I die.’ So Mordecai went away and did everything Esther had told him to do.
Esther 4:15-17 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord God, the Bible promises that if we humble ourselves and pray, You will hear us. We say YES to recognising how much we need You, in our lives and in the world, and to seeking You in prayer. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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.
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.
