The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Esther 7:3-7 (day one) 

Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request vs. 3

Speaking truth to power is an oft-used trope throughout scripture. Esther is one of the greatest examples of this theme. The concept is simple – tell the truth; the execution is often perilous. Truth telling when you are in agreement carries no consequences. Truth telling in the face of opposition or in disagreement with social norms carries extraordinary risk. In order to get to this position one must be confident that telling the truth is worth the reprisal, including death. Earlier in the story Esther tries to obfuscate, but she is reminded of a need and purpose that exceeds her personal comfort or protection.

Esther had truth on her side, but that did not guarantee her safety, but that is what made the decision to speak on behalf of her people all the more righteous. How often do you find it easier to sit on the sidelines and let things go rather than speak the truth? Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not talking about engaging in a social media rant. No one has EVER won a FaceBook argument. I’m talking about having the courage to speak, in love, about what you know to be true about Jesus without knowing how that courage will cost you. We need more Esthers.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Kings 19:3-8 (day seven)

and he requested for himself that he might die. vs 4

I love when the Bible is raw. God didn’t hold back from the difficult conversations, nor did he guarantee us that all things will be perfect in our lives. Rather, He gave us a glimpse into the reality that there will be difficult days ahead. He even provides for us answers to these difficult days: Rest.

From Genesis to Revelation, God makes rest a priority. He designed Sabbath for us. He knew that we have a tendency to run ourselves into the ground. True Christ followers tend to be especially guilty of this. We are servants who pour out of ourselves into others a whole lot more than we take in. We keep busy making sure that our family is taken care of and our friends’ needs are met, with little time for self-care. If we continue this path, we will find days where we are so spiritually drained that we reach our tipping point. God’s answer to this is simple: Rest.

Make time this week to take care of yourself even if it means that it inconveniences others. You will serve them better when you get your rest. Sabbath is a command.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Kings 19:3-8 (day six)

The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows how weak we are;
    he remembers we are only dust. Psalm 103:13-14

I marvel at God’s compassion for Elijah. Coming off of one of the greatest displays of God’s power and glory, Elijah retreats in fear for his life. He is riddled with dire disappointment; he is emotionally spent. If one didn’t know any better, you would think he had run out of faith.

And yet God does not chastise him or judge; no, “Ye of little faith.” Instead, he tenderly and compassionately draws near, providing him exactly what he needs.

Life is not lived solely in Mt. Carmel moments but in the trenches where life is hard, fragile, and faith is stretched. But God is there too, not to condemn, but surprisingly, to compassionately nourish.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Kings 19:3-8 (day four)

We tend to think there is a dichotomy between the spiritual and the physical. We experience mountain top “spiritual” moments, but then life quickly returns to worrying about things that are much more “physical.” Elijah experiences these things back to back. He has this wonderful mountain top moment with the Lord, but then is quickly brought into the visceral experience of running for his life, feeling exhausted and hungry, lonely and depressed.

But this is a false dichotomy. I don’t believe the Lord created us to live in this divided way. As we see with Elijah, the Lord was very near when the mountain top moment had evaporated, ministering to him through food and sleep. Eating and sleeping are not unspiritual. Prayer and worship are not non-physical.

Let’s ditch this divided way of thinking and simply walk with the Lord, inviting him into every inch of our lives. Romans 12:1 (MSG): “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”

Re:Verse passage – 1 Kings 19:3-8 (day two) And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. Vs. 3

Why do emotional and spiritual valleys seemingly ALWAYS follow mountains? We see here in Elijah a truth which often parallels our own. When we are on the mountain it is so clear to see the plan and purpose of God. We can discern steps forward, and be assured of success. We do not fear assault because our defenses are sure and strong. And then, we need rest. We get tired. The mountain is behind us, and our defenses are lowered. We feel every assault, and we are easily defeated.

Does this sound familiar? You are in good spiritual company, but notice God does not give Elijah his request. Elijah asks to die and be removed from this strife. The Lord provides food and rest for the task and journey ahead. The valleys WILL come. You will feel at your end. Don’t stop talking to God. Ask for the next breath, the next rest, the next bite. He’s as near in the valley as he was on the mountain.