The 3-phased approach of Queen Esther

Esther 3

8. Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. ⁹If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, …

The king agreed to the request of Haman…and the word spread like wildfire. The Jews, including Mordecai, were terrified and feared for their lives. Her uncle pleaded with Esther to intercede for her people .He encouraged her that maybe she was called for a time like this to intercede for her nation against prosecution.

Esther 4

¹⁵ Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

The moment Esther agreed to the pleading of her uncle, she immediately came forward with a plan and communicated it with all the stakeholders. She immediately went into fasting in agreement with her people.

When facing extreme difficulties or situations, fasting is a powerful award-winning key to achieving breakthroughs.

Why is fasting so effective?

• It reveals our true motives
• It eliminates fear or uncertainty and prepares our hearts for the task.
• It shows humility and our reliance on God.
• It has the power to remove adversity
• It gives us the momentum to jump the hurdles smoothly.
• It brings us in a favorable position with God if done with the right intentions.
• Intimacy with God
• It strengthens our prayer life
• It can break strongholds
• It boosts our patience and strengthens our peace and faith.
• It refreshes our spirit
• It brings us in line with God’s purpose for our lives.
• Breakthroughs!
• Answered prayers.

Applicable Scripture

Psalm 35:13 (King James Version)

¹³But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

Isaiah 58:5-7 (King James Version)

⁵Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 

Daniel 9:2-4 (King James Version)

³And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

Joel 2:11-13 (King James Version)

¹²Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 
¹³And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

The above scripture questions our reason and way of fasting as we have seen with Mordecai who turned to the fasting he was used to. In contradiction to his way the Bible shows us at the end that God preferred Esther’s way of fasting.

Conclusion

Fasting is an absolute must when seeking God’s face during difficult times and adversity or just to find purpose and direction in life. When we fast, God is searching the motives of our hearts, therefore our motives for fasting should not be selfish, demanding, or even forcing Him for an outcome. Fasting brings great rewards to those who do believe that He is.

Look out for my ebook journal about Beginners’ guide for fasting.

Be blessed.

💓ChallEngEr