Warrior Princesses

Monday nights are girl time during the summer at camp and it is by far my favorite day of the week.  Just ask anyone who has worked with me.  One of the reasons I love it so much is because of the girl time cheers.  Dancing on tables while eating brownie batter isn't too shabby either though.  Anyway, one of the cheers involves an awesome woman named Esther.  Someone screams Esther and then everyone else says her famous line, "If I perish, I perish!"  Then, because we are warrior princesses like Esther, we commence in an indian cry.  I have been studying the book of Esther lately and I want to share some things that God has been teaching me through it. 

Esther became queen to King Xerxes.  God is never mentioned in the book of Esther but you can see His hand throughout the entire book.  It may seem like a random set of circumstances that led Esther to greatness but in all reality it was the hand of God leading her every step of the way.  She was Jewish by birth but the king never knew of this.  Haman was a terrible man in the kingdom who wanted to annihilate the entire Jewish population.  A decree was sent out and Mordecai, Esther's cousin, immediately starting fasting and praying to God that this would not happen.  Mordecai told Esther that she would have to be the one to stop Haman from carrying out his plan.  He tells Esther that she became queen for such a time as this.  Esther had not been invited into the presence of the king in 30 days.  Back then, you couldn't just go into the king's presence without permission.  If you went unannounced then the chances of you being punished were very high.  The only way you would not be punished is if the king held out his golden scepter to you.  Esther was willing to take a chance and put her life on the line for a cause that she believed in.  She responded to Mordecai and said if I perish, I perish.  

I love this story not just because it is a part of girl time but because it shows the boldness that a woman of God should have. Esther was bold.  Esther was confident.  Esther trusted in God above all else.  I want to be more like Esther.  We will all have and  have all had "Esther-like" moments in our life.  God puts us places for such a time as this.  Will we step up or back down?  The boldness of Esther saved all of the Jews in the land because of one simple act of boldness,  courage, and confidence in the Lord.  The Lord gives us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline NOT of fear or timidity (2 Timothy 1:7).  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord you God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6) 

As women of God, we must be bold.  We must be courageous.  We must be confident.  God did not create us to be fearful, timid, or filled with anxiety.  He created us to be strong and courageous because God will ALWAYS be with us.  There is no power on earth or anywhere else that could overcome our God.  Our God has defeated death itself.  He promises that He will ALWAYS be with us and He will NEVER leave or forsake us.  With God on our side, all things are possible.  God has placed you at this current stage of life for a specific purpose.  Be like Esther.  Be bold.  Be courageous.  Be confident.  You will find that when you do, it becomes easier to keep Moving Forward...

Kelsey J.