Beginning last night at sundown, the Jewish people began to celebrate Purim. Purim is a celebration of the story found in Esther where God used Esther to save the Jewish nation.
If you have never taken the time to read Esther, I would encourage you to do so, because it will be of great encouragement to you. The word Purim means “lots”. Evil Haman cast lots to pick the day that he planned to annihilate the Jewish nation, but God raised up Esther and that very day, the tables were turned and the plan Haman had for the Jewish people was used on him.
Some of you today may feel as though you don’t have a purpose. You may feel as you though you have a purpose, but have no clue what it is. Still others may feel like you missed your opportunity, or messed up so bad that you have ruined your purpose.
Let me be the first to enthusiastically encourage you that God put great purpose in you before you were ever created (Ephesians 2:10). In Jeremiah 29:11, we are reminded that God has plans for our lives that are good! God’s call on our lives is irrevocable (Romans 11:29)
In the case of Esther, she didn’t know her purpose. She was simply living with her cousin, Mordecai, and seeking to live a life surrendered to God. She didn’t find her purpose. Rather, her purpose found her as she said that perhaps she was made for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14)
You May Not Find Your Purpose; Your Purpose May Find You
There will most definitely be opposition as you step into your purpose, because the enemy does not want you to know who you are and what you were put here to do. Haman built gallows to hang the Jewish nation on. Haman ended up being hanged on the very gallows he created for someone else. Keep your life surrendered and focused on following Jesus in your purpose, and the same will happen to any and all that try to oppose God’s purposes for you! (Proverbs 21:30)
Today as the Jewish people celebrate, the book of Esther will be read, as children dress up like the king and Esther. Every time Haman’s name is mentioned, the crowd will make loud noises so as to drown out his very name. Your purpose will be so loud that every evil word that someone says against you, you will condemn it by the way you live your life. (Isaiah 54:17)
Esther 9:21-22 says that a day that would have been a day of mourning became a day of joy. My prayer for you is that joy would return to you as your purpose is rekindled in your heart today.
God has a purpose for you to advance His Kingdom on this earth. Keep walking in sweet surrender with Him, and trust Him, trust Him, trust Him. He WILL fulfill His purposes in you.
You are so loved,
Jena
Order Jena’s study of the book of Esther at
God always gives you the right message to write just when I need them the most. I often feel like I have missed my purpose somehow but my favorite verses are Jeremiah 29:11-13. Thank you Jena for all that you do. Can't wait to see you in November!