Last night at Arise youth movement, I was re-inspired to become like Esther. What a woman of God! Let me tell you a little bit about her:
The King of Persia, King Xeres, was seeking a wife. He had his servants sent out into the Kingdom to search for women who were beautiful virgins. The servants went out and brought in tons of women for the King to choose from! (It reminds me of a beauty pageant!) Among the chosen women, Esther was selected. Esther (also named Hadassah) was a young, beautiful Jewish girl who not only had beauty on the outside, but also had a captivating beauty within her heart. Esther was chosen by the King in the "final running's" to become Queen of Persia. Once she was selected, it was required of her to go through 12 months of "beauty school." She had to go 6 months of being soaked in oil of myrrh and 6 months of perfume and cosmetic treatments. Within these 12 months, she had to completely consecrate herself from the world. Even though there were several women in the running for Queen, something about Esther stood out to King Xeres - Esther 1:11 "Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem (where Esther was staying) to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her." When it came her turn, after the long 12 months of preparation, she went before the King. He found great favor and beauty with her, he selected HER as his Queen!!! He noticed something different about Esther. He saw her outside beauty but was more drawn to the beauty in her heart! What a story!!
Recently, in the year 2010, I kinda did what Esther did! I took the year 2010 to consecrate myself to God alone. Many know my story ... for 10 years I dated more guys than my own age, searching for the perfect one. I was in and out of relationships, left in confusion, and hopeless to ever finding true love. Dating became my lifestyle, searching for "the one" was my goal, and allowing nothing to stand in my way was my motto. Throughout those relationships, I made my mistakes. I believed the lie that to be loved was to GIVE love, in the worldy way. What a lie! There is a quote I once heard and it goes like this "Men play at love for sex and women play at sex for love." There are men out there that will say "If you love me, you will do this for me.." and there are women out there that believe "If I give him what he wants, he will love me forever.." I was one of those girls. I would date guys for love. I never knew what TRUE LOVE was. In 2010, I decided to let go of my dating habits and take the year off with God. I started my year off rough, made my mistakes, and learned from them, but the realness of God's love hit me when I became consecrated like Esther. I took 12 months of completely setting myself apart from the world and getting away with God. I stayed tucked away and safe in his arms, spending countless midnight hours on my face weeping before the throne of God. It became a lifestyle to me, one that I never want to give up.
I really want to encourage all of you out there to live the life of Esther. Consecrate yourself from the world. Whether it be in the area of dating, TV, internet, certain friends, activities, whatever! It is when you completely set yourself apart that you find out who GOD is and ultimately discover who YOU are through God. In this season on consecration, you will find your true passions and desires in life. God will stir your heart in the direction of your destiny and will equip you with the proper equipment to fight through your destiny! Look at Esther, He set her up as QUEEN of Persia to ultimately save the NATION! I don't know about you, but living a season consecrated to God to reap a reward for HIM like that one, is beyond worth it!
I am not going to sit here and say it is the easiest season you will go through, cause it is one of the hardest seasons. It is the season in your life where you will probably most feel Satan attacking your spiritual life and walk with God, cause we all know he HATES when we get away with God. But you serve a God who will protect you and lead you through! He will never EVER leave you!
Return to your First Love, God, and surrender all you are to Him, becoming a consecrated and submitted vessel to Him! My year of singleness and consecration may be over, but I will forever live the consecrated lifestyle, being set apart and always submitting to my First Love! Consecration my lifestyle, submission my goal, and allowing NOTHING to stand in the way of seeking the heartbeat of my First Love!
