Daily Devotional from Esther 7--“Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.”Queen Esther faced a terrible challenge, and she put her life on the line to face it. At the risk of her own life, Esther exposed Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews. Here we see God‘s providential...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Esther 6--Verse 1“On that night the king could not sleep.”This is where the story gets good.The king is wide awake, while Mordecai is fast asleep.And Mordecai has no idea that men are plotting his execution… no idea that his name is being tossed around… no idea that his life is about to change.But while he sleeps, God is at work.That’s what I love about God – He knows how to ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Esther 5--Verse 11a“And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches.”Haman had a serious case of the high and mighties. After seeing that Mordecai wouldn’t bow down to him, he brought his friends and wife together to bask in his own glory, maybe for an ego boost. But even that wasn’t enough! He was thirsty for revenge!It’s not often that I meet someone who is as blatan...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Esther 4--Verse 14 and 16b“‘For if you keep silent at this time, …you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’...‘Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.’”Esther was in a position to act for the Jews. Though unlawful to enter his courts, Esther heeded Mord...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Esther 3--Verses 5-6“When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage. And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away with Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.”The tale of Haman is such a cautionary tale. Everyone loved...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Esther 2--Verse 20“Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.”I love the story of Esther and how God used her. I believe it was largely because of her willingness to listen. Mordecai plays a large role by speaking wisdom to Esther. Without his words and challenges to Es...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Esther 1--Verse 12“But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.”King Ahasuerus’ angry response to Vashti’s refusal makes me so grateful for King Jesus and the way he responds to us. Unlike Ahasuerus, Jesus is humble and gentle at heart (Matthew 11:29). He rules with grace and...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Nehemiah 13--Verse 18“Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”Throughout Israel’s history, they neglected to follow God’s instructions for righteous living. The reading and teaching of the Law were neglected and ignored. This resulted in interm...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Nehemiah 12--Verse 43“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.”The preparations had been made. The Priests and the Levites had their assignments. Two choirs had been assembled. The musical instruments were ready. They knew ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Nehemiah 11--Verse 2“The people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.”Living in Jerusalem at this time was not an attractive ordeal. It was risky business. Sandballat–and his terrorist network–were still making threats. The wall, though rebuilt by this point, was certainly not foolproof. The city lacked resources, stability, and infrastructure. To mo...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Nehemiah 10--Verse 39b“We will not neglect the house of our God.”When the Israelites returned from Babylon after 70 years in exile, they read God’s law (the first five books of the Bible) to be reminded of how God expected them to live and behave as His chosen people. They were grieved to find out just how poorly their forefathers had measured up.In order to avoid another exi...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Nehemiah 9--Verse 28b“Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies.”This is the story of the Israelites in the Old Testament–rebellion, repentance, and forgiveness. Really, this is the story of humanity. We fall into sin, come to our senses and repent, and then experience God’s grace, mercy, and forg...  Read More