It Shall Be Granted

The book of Esther is one of my favorites for many reasons. But one of the most meaningful personal applications I have found in that book is the insight it provides on prayer.

Totally apart from any initiative or effort on Esther's part, God sovereignly arranged for her to be placed in a position of great influence at a crucial moment in Israel's history. Esther couldn't see the script God had written in heaven and was carrying out on earth. The entire Jewish nation stood in the balance as wicked Haman set out to destroy the chosen people of God.

You know the story. When Mordecai, Esther's cousin and the object of Haman's hatred, discovered the insidious plot to annihilate the Jews, he immediately appealed to Queen Esther to exercise her royal position by interceding before King Artaxerxes on behalf of her people.

Esther's initial hesitation stemmed from one important fact. She knew that no one dared approach the king without being invited. To do so was to risk death—unless the king were to show mercy and extend his golden scepter in welcome. She knew her life would be in jeopardy if she were to initiate an audience with the king.

Mordecai finally persuaded Esther that she had been placed in this position for a purpose greater than herself and that she simply must get involved. After three days of fasting, Esther put on her royal robes and went into the inner court of the palace where the king sat on his throne. I love those next two verses:

So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. And the king said to her, "What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!" (Esther 5:2-3, ESV, emphasis added).

Here we have a glimpse into the incredible relationship between an all-powerful God who sits on His throne in heaven, and believers who approach His throne from their position on earth to intercede on behalf of His people. (The analogy falls short, of course, because Artaxerxes, being a pagan king, cannot possibly represent God accurately.)

When we, like Queen Esther, become aware of a need here on earth, we may be reluctant to approach the King of the universe with our puny needs and burdens. But we forget that this King loves us, He has chosen us, He delights in us, and, inexplicably, He has determined to accomplish His purposes on earth in union with the prayers of His people. In fact, He is waiting for us to come and ask.

I often wonder what supernatural acts God would perform in our world—things He is ready, willing, eager, and able to do—if we would just approach Him and make our requests known.

Years ago, a friend raised this question, which has stayed in my mind: If God only did that in my life and the lives of others which I asked Him to do, how much would He do? And how much more might we receive from His hand, if only we prayed more?

O God, make us desperate, and grant us faith and boldness to approach Your throne and make our petitions known, knowing that in so doing we link arms with Omnipotence and become instruments of Your eternal purposes being fulfilled on this earth.


Adapted from A Place of Quiet Rest, © 2000 by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Used by permission of Moody Publishers.