In honor of my 61st birthday, AWOGI posts will reflect my favor women of the Bible. One of my favorites is Queen Esther.
The life of Queen Esther is quite interesting. An orphan and a foreigner, Esther obtained grace and favor by many—most importantly, King Ahasuerus.
Esther 2:17 records this, “The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”
I often ask myself, “What made Esther different?” and “Why was she the one to obtain grace and favor?” Though I’m not sure if I'll ever gain a clear picture of what made Esther different and why she obtained grace and favor, this biblical account declares that her steps were ordered by God and she obeyed the call.
There are many men and women in the Bible who have prayed for favor (acceptance, approval, special blessings, and benefits) of God and man. In most cases favor denotes a relationship with and connection to God.
The Bible also declares that God is gracious (meaning that He gives blessings we don’t and can't earn). So, even when our ways haven’t pleased God, His love toward us continues to grant what we don’t deserve—GRACE.
Queen Esther's life is my example. She's one of my favorites because while I continually pray for and look for God’s favor I'm always grateful for the grace I don’t deserve.
Like Esther, each of us has had some connection with loss, grief, and pain. As we continue to walk in God's power and light, the presence of His Holy Spirit has the ability to overshadow our deficiencies causing us to obtain grace and favor.
Her Life My Example: Queen Esther