Preparing for the Golden Scepter

Before Esther found favor in the eyes of King Ahasuerus there was a process that was crucial to go through. Today we find many Christians that have had a genuine experience with God, but have come to a place of stagnation. To remain neutral in God is to be backslidden. As we search the scriptures we find that the most effective characters were those that continually pressed into God and continually desired more of Him, who were not afraid to "come boldly unto the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16)." Esther is a perfect example of how a believer should approach God. Before she was ever chosen to be queen, there was a major process that had to take place. All of the women that were candidates had to go through a process of purification that consisted of six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet odors and other substances (Esther 2:12). What is interesting about myrrh is that one way it was used in the ancient world was to clean wounds. As we come to God, we all have wounds from our past. We have hurts and trials that we have been through, and in the process before being favored we must be cleansed with the myrrh as God cleanses our wounds. The next thing in preparation for selection by the king was "sweet odors." In Revelation 5:8 the scripture says in heaven there are "golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints." Here we find that before being selected by God we must come to Him in prayer. It is essential to have a prayer life to remain clean and are prepared for the call of "the King." After Esther was selected and became queen, a day comes when trials come her way. A decree is made to have the Jews, her people, slaughtered. At crucial times in life we must find favor in the eyes of the King and have the golden scepter stretched out to us. Once again, Esther had to go back to preparation, this time it was fasting. In Esther 4:16 she tells Mordecai to fast along with the other Jews as well, then she says that she and her maidens will also fast. For three days and nights they fast without food or water. After this preparation, Esther approaches the king without being bid and she finds favor with the king as he holds out his golden scepter to her. To make a long story short, the Jews are not destroyed, but one person who had prepared themselves received favor with the king. As believers in the Living God, we must emulate this story by preparing ourselves with prayer and fasting, and after a season the King will hold out his golden scepter and our desires will become reality!