The Struggle is Real!
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood… we are not wrestling only with physical opponents, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Ephesians 6:12 AMP
I realize this is hard to grasp. We are such creatures of our senses, and since these forces we battle cannot be seen, it’s a stretch of our faith. But that does not mean they will back down. That does not mean they are not real. Just because you can’t see the wind, does not mean you don’t sense it’s force.
Like it or not, Warrior…
we are all in a battle. But that doesn’t have to be bad news. Because God has provided all we need to triumph. We don’t have to be sapped of all our mental energy and motivation, struggling against people that drive us crazy or circumstances out of our control. We can listen to what God has to say, trust that He knows best… from His perspective in heaven, and get suited up so we will begin to walk in victory.
Today our Warrior Esther, has proven her courage by accepting the wisdom and well-lived example God gave through Mordecai. And Esther was admired by everyone who saw her. Which causes me to wonder if she knew the full meaning of her name; if that somehow gave her reassurance in the middle. Because even there we see God in the details of her life; we see that she was certainly planned and purposed for such a time as this.
Esther had two names…
Her Persian name, Esther means star. But her Israelite name, Hadassah means myrtle, as in the myrtle tree. Now this tree was a bit different than the crepe myrtle of which we are often associated. The myrtle tree was not only the national tree of Israel, but to the people of that day, it was not only beautiful, but functional.
The leaves were a shiny evergreen, with a pleasant sent; similar to eucalyptus. The Israelites would use the leaves for medicinal purposes. And before it bore the fruit of berries, it bloomed with little star-shaped flowers which were white, fading to a tint of purple at the edges.
If you were to read the description of Xerxes courtyard at the time of the first feast, you would see the significance of these colors. (Look HERE). And I just have to believe that as Xerxes was surrounded by these same colors, God was conditioning his senses for young Hadassah.
Even when Esther was crowned, research shows that it would have not been a metal crown as we might imagine. Rather ribbons tied around her forehead. And, you guessed it… they were white and purple. (see commentary)
God was with her…
throughout this struggle, this difficult time when her life was completely interrupted. She would never have chosen this. She may have had her own dreams and aspirations which she could’ve mourned. Rather she became rooted where God planted her. A representative of Israel in a pagan land, crowned with the colors of her name-sake.
Warrior, I know the struggle is real. I’ve had my share of them and don’t expect them to end until I see heaven. But I have realized that God is with me, even when I feel alone in it. But that’s exactly when I’ve learned to pay attention to the details. Some might call them coincidence. Not me. I realize that God is putting His fingerprints on my circumstances. Small details, often overlooked. But they show me His reassurance when I am willing to recognize them.
I want to encourage you today Warrior, to stop and pay attention to the small things. Then lift a simple prayer of thanks to Him, acknowledging His presence. This habit will bring you into a more peaceful walk as you let go and allow Him to win the victory.
Be blessed by this word about Esther. And join me next week as we dig deeper for the treasures of God, realizing the Warrior within.
on the Podcast
Even when we feel most powerless in the circumstances of life, there is hope. Join me as we learn from Esther to realize the Warrior within. We will take a look at her life from a different perspective. Not as a victim, but as purposed and planned by God.
As we step into her life, we can find traces and trails of God which clearly gave her courage and strength in the battle. She was taken by the king, no longer free to live a life of her own, but basically enslaved.
Have you been there? Powerless to gain a grasp on the swirling struggle all about you? Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Learn from one who has not only survived, but learned to thrive even in a hopeless situation.
Don’t miss an episode as you discover how theWarriorSHE is realized in you!
Resources can be downloaded @thewarriorshe.com
