In My Calling, Which Comes First? Plus a Giveaway!
What is the first step in our calling when sense God is moving us in a new direction?
In the past few years, I’ve learned many lessons from Esther. It all began when I noticed a pattern in the story of Esther that Amy had been trying to implement in her life.
Listen –> Feel –> Do –> Speak
Did you see Amy Carroll’s devotion today? Here’s an excerpt:
I’m especially inspired by Esther, who saved her people with her words. She didn’t rush in with her own thoughts, nor did she stay silent out of fear. Instead, she paused and fasted for God’s direction. (Esther 4:16) She waited for just the right time to speak. (Esther 5:8) Then she didn’t stop speaking up, even though her life was in danger until her people were fully safe. (Esther 8:3-6) Esther left behind self-protective silence and followed God, allowing Him to shape her words. In turn, He used her voice to redeem her people.
Listen– At her moment of crisis in Esther 4, Esther didn’t plunge forward with her own ideas. She paused to listen for God’s solution. This is the first step in our calling.
Feel– Esther let her feelings of alarm over the King’s edict move her forward into righteous action.
Do– After listening to God’s direction, she made a plan that included approaching her husband, the king, to invite him to multiple feasts.
Speak– Finally, at the second banquet, Esther spoke up to save her people.
It’s been fascinating and instructive to unpack those four steps in Esther’s life. Do you notice that she spoke last? That’s a hard one for a call like me!
GIVEAWAY
Amy is giving away a copy of our new study Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World.
To enter, simply leave a comment on her blog (be sure to go to Amy’s blog!) sharing what you love about Esther or what you’d like to learn from this study. Just click here to get to the giveaway!
Lynn,
I’ve always been amazed at Esther. How a young orphan girl gets put into a harem, keeps a quiet, calm, easy demeanor. Then when faced with annihilation she acts. Firstly she seeks God’s wisdom & then sprang into action. She listened, felt, did & then spoke up with courage. She realized that God had her all the time. He would see her through this storm.
Blessings 🙂
She is amazing! The one thing I had missed in the past were her feelings. Esther 4:4 tells us “…and the queen was overcome with fear.” CSB Esther definitely experienced the same type of feelings we would experience AND she partnered with God. I think that is one of the greatest takeaways from her story. 🙂
There have been moments in my life, I felt a deep connection to Esther. God has been so faithful. I am currently in one of those places in life. Praying and trusting my Heavenly Father. ❤️
I am too, Danita!
Several years ago I had a friend come to me when I was very distressed about a situation. And she gave me an excerpt from the book of Esther that she said she felt she was supposed to share with me. What I hadn’t told anyone was I had gone to my mother’s grave the day before and shared with mom my dilemma with church and said, I wish you were here so I could talk to you, I need help and direction The Bible verse my friend had shared with me was from the book of Esther (Esther 4:14)) and my mom’s name was Esther. Our God is amazing.
Wow! That is truly amazing! He love when He is so personal like that!
Thank you for sharing this blessed message. So beautifully spoken .
I had never seen that in her before I started studying her life.
Good advice from Esther. Listen first.
I haven’t read the book of Ester. This is for me at this crucial time in my life! I’ve struggled with the “order” of these very important ways to share in my calling, be courageous in this season of breast cancer I’m in as well as moving forward. The hardest part for me seems to be the action. I want to do it first without all the other steps. I love this and needed this today! Thank you Lynn and Amy!!
Bj – I hadn’t seen any time of “steps” or processes in Esther’s life until I read it through this lens. I hope reading her story will help you as you step forward in this difficult time of trial.
I am intentionally making efforts to pause and listen instead of prematurely rushing to do all the time.
Me too, Renada! It sure can be hard to practice that self-control!
Esther has always been one of my favorite people in the Bible. The strength and faith it took to step out. Thank you for sharing.
She’s a great model for us in having faith that God will give us what we need when we need it!