SOAPing Esther- Keep your cool

I’m reading and SOAPing my way through Esther. Today I am sharing my SOAP response to chapter seven.  If you’re looking for a devotional guide or Bible reading plan, I’d love for you to join me. Here’s what stood out to me today:

Scripture: Esther 7:3

Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, O King and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life– this is my petition. And spare my people– this is my request.”

Observation:

Esther makes her request, asking the king to save her life, as well as the lives of all the Jews.

Application:

Esther knew she had a big request. Rather than just jump in and ask, though, she prepared two banquets and then made her request in a respectful, rational way. That seems like a lot to orchestrate, but it was a big request. And her methods yielded the answer she wanted.

I don’t think the message here is to manipulate, but I think it this passage shows us that Esther didn’t rush into making a big request. Over the last chapters we learned that she fasted and likely prayed about the situation for three days. Then she approached the king and hosted not just one, but two banquets, and then the presented her request in a calm way, asking the king to honor it if she had pleased him.

She took her time. She wasn’t impatient. Just because it was a big deal she didn’t rush it or lose her head. Because she recognized it was a big deal, she took proper action and followed proper protocol.

Prayer:

Lord, please guide me in keeping my cool when I am upset. Rather than rush in when I am feeling threatened, please help me to step back, seek you and then proceed as you would have me proceed, rather than just get emotional and speak my mind right away. I hope to never have to act in such a serious situation as Esther did, but yet I can still use your help and guidance in the little things that can get blown up to be so big.

Are you reading alongside me? If so, what grabbed you in today’s passage?  How do you keep your cool? Please tell me in the comments… 

If you’d like to join me, tomorrow I will be sharing my SOAP response to chapter eight of Esther.

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Wondering what SOAP is? Click over to read What is SOAP?