… a fragrant odor of an offering or sacrifice which God welcomes and one in which He delights. Phil 4:18 Amplified
I have been thinking of late, how wonderful and pleased the Lord is when we are not only aligned with His word but also with His will. How everything we experience and the things that occur in our lives are for our growth, as well as our good. Naturally, as parents we watch as our children come into themselves and we observe their growth based on our training, teaching and leading. We see their potential even when they don’t see or understand it yet and we hope that they will grow in the ways they've been taught. We also know that in order to grow there will be circumstances of life that must happen that will affect growth or could possibly stifle growth. However, it is important to remember that it’s our response and our handling of those circumstances that determines our growth spurts or development. Some of which, we won’t be able to shield them from so that this natural process can take place. This also applies to our spiritual life.
Last year, I had the pleasure of hosting a two day conference on the great Queen Esther. The first workshop was entitled “Created for Purpose.” It told of the early beginnings in the life of Esther; her upbringing, her teachings, her grooming, and her preparation for purpose. While studying, I found some interesting background information on Esther’s name that excited me so that I knew it was a must share for the workshop; this revelation, this nugget that we could apply to our journey with the Lord.
Esther’s Jewish name was Hadassah, which derives from the word “myrtle.” Myrtle is a type of tree whose leaves only release their beautiful fragrance when they are crushed. You pull a leaf off the branch and crush it between your fingers and the sweet smelling aroma is released. I want you to meditate on that for a moment and think about how the word crushed is defined; as to press or squeeze with a force; to pound and force out or to extract: to apply by pressure forcibly or strongly: to overwhelm with confusion, chagrin, or humiliation, as by argumentation or a slighting action or remark; squelch; to oppress grievously.
Sometimes, we will be put in situations or circumstances that may feel as if we are being crushed, or pressured, broken and burdened. But, it’s during this process that we begin to release that fragrance that God desires; a sweet smell unto His nostrils, one of which He is well pleased. Why, because we are created for purpose; because it is necessary for the building of our character, for the preparation of God’s desired effect in us and our growth. I hope you catch that in your spirit today. It’s compared to being tried by the fire, after the fire burns off all the dross, you then begin to see the shine (I Peter 1:7)! It is at those times when begin to understand why we have been created, and how our unexpected strengths come forth. We watch a transformation take place not only in us as the fragrance releases but in turn, it also releases us into a statue of power, of strength and of faith. We then begin to think about being created for God’s purpose. We begin to come to the realization of who we are and whose we are and that all things are working together for our good and for our growth. When we understand the wisdom and the authority we possess on both the natural and the spiritual level, we will be a force to be reckoned with.
Realization will cause us to renew our fervor and zeal for God, our passion for ministry. We will be determined to run all the way. We will be motivated and driven to seek out God’s purpose for our life; we will learn to face adversity, make hard decisions because we know that God is counting on us to succeed. In verse 19 it says, “And my God will liberally supply your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” He has already made the provisions liberally it states. We need only to walk in it.
Esther was created for purpose - an instrument for God. God also wants us to be an instrument to be used for His glory. It’s in our willingness to obey, our willingness to get prepared so that He can position us for our appointed time; allowing God to crush us until the fragrance that He desires is expelled. Imagine what God could do if we would just surrender all to Him.. Imagine the work we could accomplish for the Kingdom if there was no more I … but you Lord!
Esther didn’t even know her potential; she didn’t even know her worth until she was under pressure, yet she had been in the process of getting prepared all along. But God knew -- God set Esther up, an unlikely, unknown candidate to become the great and woman of royalty she was, He gave her unmerited favor naturally and spiritually. So many of us we don’t realize our potential, or the power we possess, or we are still living beneath what God has predestined for our lives. Esther was strategically, deliberately, tactically, and purposely placed for such a time and God is trying to do the same in us… for such a time as this. Let God do a work in us; molding, shaping, prepping, and crushing, so that we are releasing a beautiful fragrance and sending up that sweet fragrance to God’s nostrils; He will be well pleased!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
I have been thinking of late, how wonderful and pleased the Lord is when we are not only aligned with His word but also with His will. How everything we experience and the things that occur in our lives are for our growth, as well as our good. Naturally, as parents we watch as our children come into themselves and we observe their growth based on our training, teaching and leading. We see their potential even when they don’t see or understand it yet and we hope that they will grow in the ways they've been taught. We also know that in order to grow there will be circumstances of life that must happen that will affect growth or could possibly stifle growth. However, it is important to remember that it’s our response and our handling of those circumstances that determines our growth spurts or development. Some of which, we won’t be able to shield them from so that this natural process can take place. This also applies to our spiritual life.
Last year, I had the pleasure of hosting a two day conference on the great Queen Esther. The first workshop was entitled “Created for Purpose.” It told of the early beginnings in the life of Esther; her upbringing, her teachings, her grooming, and her preparation for purpose. While studying, I found some interesting background information on Esther’s name that excited me so that I knew it was a must share for the workshop; this revelation, this nugget that we could apply to our journey with the Lord.
Esther’s Jewish name was Hadassah, which derives from the word “myrtle.” Myrtle is a type of tree whose leaves only release their beautiful fragrance when they are crushed. You pull a leaf off the branch and crush it between your fingers and the sweet smelling aroma is released. I want you to meditate on that for a moment and think about how the word crushed is defined; as to press or squeeze with a force; to pound and force out or to extract: to apply by pressure forcibly or strongly: to overwhelm with confusion, chagrin, or humiliation, as by argumentation or a slighting action or remark; squelch; to oppress grievously.
Sometimes, we will be put in situations or circumstances that may feel as if we are being crushed, or pressured, broken and burdened. But, it’s during this process that we begin to release that fragrance that God desires; a sweet smell unto His nostrils, one of which He is well pleased. Why, because we are created for purpose; because it is necessary for the building of our character, for the preparation of God’s desired effect in us and our growth. I hope you catch that in your spirit today. It’s compared to being tried by the fire, after the fire burns off all the dross, you then begin to see the shine (I Peter 1:7)! It is at those times when begin to understand why we have been created, and how our unexpected strengths come forth. We watch a transformation take place not only in us as the fragrance releases but in turn, it also releases us into a statue of power, of strength and of faith. We then begin to think about being created for God’s purpose. We begin to come to the realization of who we are and whose we are and that all things are working together for our good and for our growth. When we understand the wisdom and the authority we possess on both the natural and the spiritual level, we will be a force to be reckoned with.
Realization will cause us to renew our fervor and zeal for God, our passion for ministry. We will be determined to run all the way. We will be motivated and driven to seek out God’s purpose for our life; we will learn to face adversity, make hard decisions because we know that God is counting on us to succeed. In verse 19 it says, “And my God will liberally supply your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” He has already made the provisions liberally it states. We need only to walk in it.
Esther was created for purpose - an instrument for God. God also wants us to be an instrument to be used for His glory. It’s in our willingness to obey, our willingness to get prepared so that He can position us for our appointed time; allowing God to crush us until the fragrance that He desires is expelled. Imagine what God could do if we would just surrender all to Him.. Imagine the work we could accomplish for the Kingdom if there was no more I … but you Lord!
Esther didn’t even know her potential; she didn’t even know her worth until she was under pressure, yet she had been in the process of getting prepared all along. But God knew -- God set Esther up, an unlikely, unknown candidate to become the great and woman of royalty she was, He gave her unmerited favor naturally and spiritually. So many of us we don’t realize our potential, or the power we possess, or we are still living beneath what God has predestined for our lives. Esther was strategically, deliberately, tactically, and purposely placed for such a time and God is trying to do the same in us… for such a time as this. Let God do a work in us; molding, shaping, prepping, and crushing, so that we are releasing a beautiful fragrance and sending up that sweet fragrance to God’s nostrils; He will be well pleased!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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