This Sunday our prayer pastor, Geannine LeBude, was our speaker. Below is an introduction to her sermon:
Last month I shared how we often take on the position and mindset of the persistent widow when we approach our Father in prayer. We often pray in the same manner as the widow in anguished, fear based, issue-oriented style of prayer and approach our Father as if He were an unjust judge, distant and unconcerned; We have missed the ravished heart of the Bridegroom. Jesus was able to submit to the hand of the evil one, without a word of objection because He understood the Father’s heart. This type of confidence comes from a place of intimacy where the knowledge of the Father’s heart is revealed to us. We concluded that our Father’s desire is for us to approach Him as His dearly loved children, with the belief and understanding that He loves us and desires to intervene on our behalf.
Today I want to look at another example of how we can approach our Father in prayer. I want us to reflect on the story of Queen Esther. Esther found herself in a desperate and dangerous situation just like the widow in Luke 18, but Esther approaches her situation from a different mindset and a different position. We can glean a great deal of insight into how we can approach our Father from how Esther approaches the King in this story. The difference between Esther and the widow is that Esther has an intimate relationship with the King. She was in relationship with him and she approaches the King based on their relationship. The widow on the other hand was approaching an unjust judge whom she had no intimate relationship with. We will see, as we look at this story Esther’s relationship to the one in authority change everything. It changed her mind set, her approach and the outcome. As we look at how Queen Esther approaches the King put yourself in her place and picture yourself approaching our Father in prayer. What is your belief about Him? How do you feel standing before Him? How do you petition Him? Are you like Esther who placed her hope in the King’s affection for her?