Last week, we started a purpose profile on Esther, which will be part of a larger series on women and purpose. If you missed reading the last two weeks, you may want to catch up on those here before you continue on this week. Then once you have read this, check out my information below concerning my latest book and 2018 Israel trip, but for now, let’s move on to Esther!
PURPOSE COMES LOOKING FOR YOU.
The first point I want to make this week is that Esther didn’t have to look for their purpose; their purpose came looking for them.
Then the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Then let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it (Esther 2:2-4).
They discovered Esther and chose her to be among those women, and they eventually selected her to be the new queen. As you examine your purpose this week, ask yourself: What always finds me that needs done? What group or kind of people always seem to seek me out for counsel, encouragement or help? If you can answer those questions, you will have important clues to help you clarify your purpose. One thing that regularly happens to me, for instance, no matter where I am in the world, is that people ask me for directions—an expression of my purpose to create order out of chaos. I never have to go looking for chaos; chaos always comes looking for me.
THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
After Esther was chosen to be the new queen, a crisis arose among her fellow Jews. The king had an aide named Haman, who hated the Jews with a passion. He was able to convince the king (who was unaware that Esther was a Jew) to issue an edict that all the Jews were to be exterminated throughout the kingdom. What was Esther to do? Her cousin Mordecai gave her good advice, as usual:
When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:12-14, emphasis added).
The second point here is that purpose puts you in the right place at the right time. When you function in your purpose, there is a sense that God is helping you accomplish what you are doing, without effort or you having to make something happen. When someone needs directions, I just happen to come along and for whatever reason they choose me out of the crowd to ask where to go. I couldn’t plan that if I wanted to. It is a small way in which I know that God uses me to help others and it flows naturally. It is part of my purpose to create order out of chaos.
So ask yourself: When am I in “the flow?” When do I most seem to be in the right place at the right time? What need or needs do I always seem to be in a position to meet? Answers to those questions will most certainly help you clarify your purpose and will also help you have a good week with many more to follow!
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MY LATEST BOOK: I have published a daily devotional to accompany my book, Life is a Gold Mine: Can You Dig It? This devotional will help you apply the five Gold Mine Principles to your life and those principles are purpose, creativity, goal setting, time management, and faith. Order your copy today!
ISRAEL 2018: The price for the Israel trip just went down by $150. Space is filling up quickly, so book today by going to the trip website.
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