THE KING KNOWS

MEMORISE: 'Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.' (Eccles 11:1)
READ: Matthew 6:31-33

Queen Esther was in a crisis. She and the whole Jewish nation were faced with extermination by their enemies. It was at that time that she decided to offer her husband what he enjoyed most. A time of crisis is a time to praise God. In Acts 16:16-26, Paul and Silas were imprisoned. They praised God and were set free. It is important to note however that the size of the problem should determine the size of praise. That is, the greater the problem or crisis, the greater should be the praise. In 2 Chronicles 20:1-37, when King Jehoshaphat was faced with the allied forces of three kings, he knew praising God on his own might not be sufficient. So he appointed singers and as they sang, God gave them victory.

Esther made a banquet and invited the king and Haman, her enemy. From this we learn that we should include our crisis in our praise. For instance, you can say, 'father, thank you for this crisis because it is going to become a testimony.' 'Thank you for this trial, because it will lead to my promotion.' 'Thank you for this Goliath, and I know that you who delivered me from the lions, will also take care of him.' 'Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days' (Eccles11:1). Another lesson we learn from Esther's banquet is that we should soften the ground before digging. Ecclesiastes 11:3 says: 'If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth…' Learn to load your cloud: when it is full, it will surely produce rain. Go to the Lord with praise whenever you are faced with problems. He already knows your needs and you are more likely to obtain your desires through praise than by requesting help.

King Ahasuerus was not fooled by the invitation to the banquet. He realized he had a highly intelligent wife. He knew she had a problem and she needed his help God too, is not fooled when you praise him in a crisis. He knows your need before you ask him, because he is the all - knowing God. Praising him amounts to giving him what he wants, and in the process he will respond. And when he does, your situation will change. Do you praise him enough?

ACTION POINT
Praise God for 30 minutes over the crisis you are facing
And thank him for turning it around.