10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. 11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.
15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
20 Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. Esther 2:10-11;15; 20 ESV
Lord, let me follow after you with such trusting integrity. Lord, Esther was beautiful in form and in quiet obedience. In all her ways, she was pleasing. May my obedience present me as beautiful, as pleasing unto You, the true King! May my trust be as single-eyed as hers. You are in control!
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:4-6 ESV
Psalm 139 blankets me like a gracious coverlet, and I nestle under its encompassing warmth. Curling up, as a small child, in resting trust. Known inside and out, before, behind, what is yet to be.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:11-12 ESV
Darkness is as light to you, O Lord! You are light. There is nothing hidden from you. My safety in You knows no bounds. There is no fear of dark with You. Wrap me in Your love, O Lord.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail[b] on account of him.
Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:5-8 ESV
Lord, I walk in freedom in You! I walk in Your love. Help me to realize the full depth of that freedom and love! In Esther, I see You “who was”, in Psalm 139, I am immersed in You, “who is” and in Revelation 1, I glory in my God “who is to come!” You are coming with the clouds and everyone shall see You! Help me to fully bow before You now and to walk continually in trusting integrity before You all of my days.
Sixty-six books in a year 