We all want to be pleasing to God. Here are three women who show us how it's done:
Esther was a beautiful, young, Jewish virgin whom God had chosen to be queen.
Many young women were gathered and prepared for 12 months to vie for the title. When their time came to go before the king in hopes of winning his approval, each woman was given whatever she desired to take with her…gold, jewels, exquisite clothing, etc.
But when Ester's turn came, she requested nothing but what Hegai, the king's eunuch advised. "Give me whatever you think would be pleasing to the king." was, in essence, her reply. (Esther 2:13-15) If we fast-forward to verse 17, we see the wisdom of her actions. "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."
Ruth and Orpah were daughters-in-law of Naomi. When Naomi's husband and both her sons died, all three women were left widows. After the funerals, the three of them set out to return to the land of Judah. Then Naomi said to them both, "turn back my daughters, why will you go with me? It grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me. "Then the girls wept. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, then went back to her people and her gods; but Ruth clung to her. "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you;" Ruth said. "for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me. "(Ruth 1:17)
So Ruth went on to Bethlehem and took care of Naomi. This choice was pleasing to God, and He blessed her. Shortly thereafter, God arranged for Ruth to meet Boaz, a man of great wealth and a relative of Naomi's late husband. Boaz was very impressed by Ruth's loyalty to her mother-in-law. He soon fell in love with her, and took her for his wife. Ruth went from being a servant/pauper to owning the field.
Orpah was never mentioned again.
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, a virgin, and told her, "You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name JESUS. "(Luke 1:31) Mary, although very confused at such an idea, since she had never been with a man, said to the angel, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word. "The angel departed from her after saying, "For with God nothing will be impossible. "
Then God gave Mary the great honor of becoming the mother of Jesus.
Humility was the common denominator of all these women. "His will not mine "was the mantra of their hearts.
Jesus showed that same humility in the garden of Gethsemane shortly before the Romans came to take Him away to be crucified. As He spoke with His Father, He said, "If you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will, but Yours be done. "(Luke 22:42)
When our will is to be pleasing to our Father, whatever the cost, He blesses us and makes us a blessing. We are catapulted into divine favor, and God's hand of approval rests upon us.
I want to encourage you today, as we begin this brand new year of 2022, to lay every single thing in your life at the feet of Jesus; and say, "God, here I am, take all of me. Make me a vessel of honor fit for Your use. Make me everything You created me to be. Not my will, but Yours be done."
This kind of dedicated heart and surrender will open the door for God to rock your world! You will see the miraculous explode in your life… you will know the peace that passes all understanding. Your joy will be unspeakable and full of His glory. Your strength will be replenished, and you will soar like an eagle in high places.… no longer picking on the ground with the chickens. His presence will fill your heart and overflow onto others. "He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. "Hebrews 11:6
God has created you for greatness! No good thing will He withhold from those who love Him… to those who are fully surrendered to Him, desiring only to be pleasing to Him.
If you can do this, then all things will be possible for you. God's best and nothing less…
Let that be your prayer, our prayer for 2022.
