Can YOU

The speaker begins with a prayer, asking for listeners to be open to God's word. They then introduce a podcast episode about the book of Esther, emphasizing the message that everyone has the potential to be like Esther and stand up for others. They discuss how God's presence is felt throughout Esther, even though his name is never mentioned. The speaker encourages listeners to have faith and trust in God and to be obedient to his instructions. They challenge listeners to step out of their comfort zones and be like Esther. The speaker concludes by thanking the audience and praying for them to be strong and brave like Esther. Father, I come before you today, and I ask that you open everyone who is listening to ears, hearts, and minds, and that they take back your word and get discernment from you. I ask this in Jesus' name. Lord, I want to thank you, and I want to praise you, because without you, I would not be able to do this and share your word. So I give you all the glory, because it is all you. I thank you, and I praise you, and I love you in Jesus' name. Amen. Hey there, it's Anna with God's Podcast. In today's episode, I am going to read from the book of Esther. I have read Esther before, but I decided that I wanted to start again in the book of Esther. I needed to hear what the message was, because we all have Esther in us. We just have to be reminded of what and who we are through God. And I'm going to read in chapter 4 verses 12 through 16. When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer. Do not think that because you are in the king's house, you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place. But you and your father's family will perish. And who knows, but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this. Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai. Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susseh, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. What a statement that is from Esther. While reading the book of Esther, I realized that God is not mentioned not once in the entirety of the book of Esther. But that does not mean that God was not there. It is actually the opposite. His presence was everywhere in the decision making, working through the characters, and being rewarded without the intention of you ever receiving that reward. He was also there in the compassion, in the patience, and the list can go on and on, of how God's presence is so prominent, even though his name is never spoken of. And honestly, how powerful is that? That a name is not mentioned, but you know exactly who is in charge, who is in power, who is going to win without their name ever being spoken of. Esther is a powerful, tiny little book in the Bible that shows you that God's name does not even need to be spoken. But you know he is there, just like he is with us. We may have never seen him. We may have never encountered him in the physical, but our faith in him is strong enough for the unseen. The book of Esther honestly is a modern day soap opera. It has plots of deception, revenge, betrayal, lust, plot twists, and triumph. God wins, like always, just like he's going to in the end of this journey. He is going to win in the end. Esther is about courage to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. It is about having faith, trust, and believing that what you are doing for God will save his people. It is about God's love and his power. Could you be an Esther and save your people? Could you be brave enough and step out of your comfort zone to save others? Could you be an Esther? And no, I am not just talking to women. I am talking to men as well. And no, I am not trying to demasculate men. I am using Esther as an example, as a reference to step out in your faith for the greater good of yourself. I am saying, can you be an Esther and be strong enough in your faith and save your people? Could you go against the grain for God? And even if it's only you, could you do it alone? It's a scary thought I know, and I didn't believe I was an Esther, but I am. I can confidently say I am an Esther. It doesn't have to be something dramatic like the book of Esther to be an Esther either. You don't have to start a revolution or be front and center. You don't have to come up with a plan where someone ends up dying. Honestly, being an Esther means you will not back down from your faith, from God, and what he is putting on your heart to do. It means being obedient to God's instruction. He is telling you. I'll give you a few examples. Sharing with someone God's word. Praying over someone. Not being scared to say you love God. Being okay being called a Bible thumper. And through your actions of being just like Jesus so others can see God through you. Those are just a few to name. I have read Esther before like I said, but I decided to reread it. And when I tell you it is exactly what I needed right now in my life to remind me that I have always been an Esther. I just didn't see it. It gave me new clarity that I confidently can say I am an Esther. Esther is strong, brave, smart, beautiful. She represents Christ and only through God is she any of these things. She sacrifices herself for the greater good of God's divine purpose and she does it fearlessly through God. She could have been selfish. She could have saved only herself. She could have not even cared or disregarded God's plan but she didn't. She followed through for God. And we too can be an Esther. We too can step out of our comfort zone and be obedient to God and save our people. Are you ready to be an Esther? I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone. I challenge you to step out into your faith and be an Esther. If you've never read the book of Esther, it literally is not a long book. It has 10 chapters in it. After reading it and digging deep, it will change you. It will open your eyes that you too can be an Esther. You too can step out into faith. You too can trust God to do his purpose in your life and to use you and to move you. All you have to do is be obedient. So until next episode, keep bibling, keep spreading God's word and be an Esther. Step out in faith. Trust God. Thank you. Thank you for listening and thank you for your support. Father, I come before you and I glorify you and I thank you for making me realize that I too am an Esther and that we all can be an Esther. Lord, I lift up each and every person and I ask that you guide them so they too can have trust in you and be obedient to you and step out in their faith and you allow them to be like Esther. Strong, brave and to save their people. Lord, I glorify you and I thank you. I love you and I praise you in Jesus name. Amen. They may come, they may go. You keep showing up so new. Ain't no doubt about it. You are real. The time has saved my life. You are the joy. You're the smile on the face of your boy. You're the flowers at the park in Detroit. Still the words on the back of a coin just makes a noise. You cover me like a thunder when you're rolling up your sleeves. You're the truth that's on the side that keeps me free. The only thing that's ever chose to be is what I believe. They keep trying to make your glory fade. But I ain't really sweating what they say. Ain't no doubt about you. Everywhere that I go, you keep showing up. You make me want to shout it out. You're the goodness in my life. You are my truth. They may come, they may go. You keep showing up so new. Ain't no doubt about it. You are real. The time has saved my life. Through the good and the bad and the ugly, I can still see the sunshine above me. Lord, I love all the ways that you love me. You're the good, you're the good, you're the goodness. Through the good and the bad and the ugly, I can still feel the sunshine above me. Lord, I love all the ways that you love me. You're the good, you're the good, you're the goodness. You're the good, you're the good, you're the goodness. You're the good, you're the good, you're the goodness. Ain't no doubt about you. Everywhere that I go, you keep showing up. You make me want to shout it out. You're the goodness in my life. You are my truth. They may come, they may go. You keep showing up so new. Ain't no doubt about it. You are real. The time has saved my life. You're the good, you're the good, you're the goodness. You're the goodness in my life. You are, you are, still the goodness in my life.