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13 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. 14 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 your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:13-16

You see it all the time, right? Whether it’s in books, motivational speeches, song lyrics, or movies, an triumphant underdog story is contagious. The kind of story where the voice of naysayers fill a stadium growing in tandem with the crescendoing ominous tones. But then, as the climax is nearing to signal the hero's defeat, something sparks the fire of motivation to harness their warrior within and overcome all obstacles. Stories of this nature exude determination, awaken the champion we believe ourselves to be, and inspire us to go for a run the morning of January 1st. This resonates with these verses in Esther, but with a twist...

What’s unique about Esther’s predicament is the integrity she holds. Her cousin Mordecai just told her that it’s okay if she didn’t want to risk her life for the sake of her Jewish brothers and sisters, implying assurance that God’s sovereign nature to deliver was beyond folly. Yet because of her faith in God and his calling on her life, Esther disregarded this. She stood firm even though it meant she might not see the other side alive, receiving the encouragement/affirmation for her actions, and being recognized for her Jewish identity without regal status or accolades. Esther took the risk so that glory be ascribed to the true champion in this story, the God of Israel she serves.  

For us a Christians, sometimes we need to keep ourselves in check as we dig deep trying to find motivation to accomplish our goals. Maybe for you that’s a diet/exercise routine, or building the habit of reading your bible on a daily basis, but regardless of what you’re trying to do one thing remains true: God is the hero and we are the vessels FOR HIS GLORY. Maybe instead of seeking our inner motivation, we should rethink who is our motivator? The answer is simply divine. 

Have I given prayerful/thoughtful consideration to God’s call on my life?

How can I best steward His call apart from personal glory?

How can I serve my community with an Esther mindset?