Quiet Walk

[Judy Harder]

July 16

Esther 4

Esther learns of the plot to kill the Jews and plans to intercede.

INSIGHT

"I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" (4:16). Those are not the words of someone being melodramatic; they are the words of a realist who accurately assesses the situation. By law, no one can go into the presence of the king unless invited; to do so means execution. If the king chooses to extend grace to the person, he offers his scepter, whereupon the subject is to kneel and touch the top of the scepter. Esther has no idea what Ahasuerus will do. He deposed Vashti with a clap of his hands; he signed the edict to kill the Jews without asking a question. Though she has no other choice, Esther's decision still takes great courage.

PRAYER

Our courage comes from confidence in God who loves us, and for this, we give Him our praise:

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. . .
May sinners be consumed from the earth,
And the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 104:1-2, 35)

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:

Justice is far from us,
Nor does righteousness overtake us;
We look for light, but there is darkness!
For brightness, but we walk in blackness!
(Isaiah 59:9)

O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
That I may repay them.
(Psalm 41:10)

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:15-16).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

-- Greater love for non-Christians
-- The work of missions in Africa
-- Those who are persecuted for their faith

Now close with this prayer:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14).

[Judy Harder]

July 17

Esther 5

Esther plans a banquet to set the stage for the revelation of the death plot.

INSIGHT

"Pride goes before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18). One of the supreme examples of this truth in all of the Bible is Haman. His ego is on a feeding frenzy. He has power, wealth, position, family, friends, and honor. Yet all of this fails to satisfy his ego. Mordecai's unwillingness to bow down to him sticks like a bone in Haman's throat. Haman's wife reveals her character by suggesting a flamboyant display of vengeance: "Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high [75 feet], and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it," she counsels (v. 14). The same shadow is darkening both hearts. When pride is taken to this extreme, we see how exceedingly ugly it is. Beware of pride!

PRAYER

Our pride is mellowed when we see how Jesus humbled Himself for us. Praise Him for His love:

O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions— . . .
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord.
(Psalm 104:24, 33-34)

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
O Lord, correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.
(Jeremiah 10:23-24)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

I will remember the works of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.
(Psalm 77:11-12).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

-- Faithfulness with your talents
--State and local leaders,
-- Your activities for the day,
-- Whatever else is on your heart.

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).

[Judy Harder]

July 18

Esther 6

Haman must honor Mordecai with acts which Haman himself suggested.

INSIGHT

Very few things in the Bible are actually funny. However, taken in isolation, chapter 6 of Esther is probably the funniest event in the Bible. The king asks Haman what he thinks is a good way to honor someone. Haman thinks to himself, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?" (6:6). Then he tells the king what he, Haman, would like to have done for himself. The king then responds by telling Haman to do that for Mordecai. The irony is overwhelming—the humor irrepressible. The wrath of man is made to praise God.

PRAYER

God is a God of power and glory, yet He loves to call us His own. Praise Him for His love for us:

O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples,
And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
And Your glory above all the earth.
(Psalm 108:1-5)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this prayer:

"I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me" (Jeremiah 33:.

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
(Micah 6:.

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

-- Greater wisdom in decision making
-- The needs of friends
-- Your activities for the day

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

[Judy Harder]

July 19

Esther 7

Haman's plot is revealed, and he is hanged.

INSIGHT

The final irony falls. Haman hangs on the gallows which he had constructed for Mordecai. Pride has come full circle; sin has self-destructed. Satan is called the deceiver and the destroyer; he deceives in order to destroy. He gets us to commit ourselves to a course of action which we think will achieve our aims, and, in the end, it destroys us. If you are on any course of action which you feel will achieve your aims—but the course of action is wrong—give it up. Unchecked, you will eventually be destroyed by it.

PRAYER

Offer your praise to the Lord that though He does not always spare us from pain, He is always with us through the pain:

Praise the Lord!
I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. . .
His work is honorable and glorious,
And His righteousness endures forever. . .
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.
(Psalm 111:1, 3, 10)

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:

Assyria shall not save us,
We will not ride on horses,
Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands,
"You are our gods."
For in You the fatherless finds mercy.
(Hosea 14:3).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(Proverbs 9:10)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

-- Spiritual victory over temptation
-- Opportunities to serve the Lord
-- Your activities for the day,
-- Whatever else is on your heart

Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17).

[Judy Harder]

July 20

Esther 8

Mordecai is honored and promoted.

INSIGHT

The law of the Medes and Persians cannot be revoked. Once written, no one, not even the king, can rescind it. The law to annihilate the Jews is carved in stone. Since the original plan cannot be revoked, a clever counter-plan is conceived to neutralize it. Permission is given to the Jews to arm themselves and to assemble and defend themselves. In addition, Mordecai is raised to power, replacing the position previously occupied by Haman. God's sovereign protection of His people in exile is in its final stages. The integrity of Esther and Mordecai is rewarded. Righteousness triumphs.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord for His watchfulness over the circumstances of our lives:



Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore.
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.
(Psalm 105:1-5)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:

The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it? . . .
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For You are my praise.
(Jeremiah 17:9, 14)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

-- Greater passion for moral excellence
-- Your activities for the day
-- Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

[Judy Harder]

July 21

Esther 9

With the king's permission, the Jews are allowed to protect themselves.

INSIGHT

National salvation is culminated for the Jews. When the fateful day arrives, the Jews throughout the empire stand on the defense. In the provinces, 75,000 of their assailants fall—500 of them in the capital of Susa alone. Among these are the 10 sons of Haman. A divine purpose runs through all human governments and events; and as God exalted Mordecai to honor and glory, so will He work for those who love Him. And so, ultimately, will He put all enemies under His feet.

PRAYER

God is far more powerful than any earthly leader. Thank Him that His power is tempered with righteousness and compassion:

The Lord is King forever and ever;
The nations have perished out of His land.
Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear,
To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
(Psalm 10:16-18)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
And the tongue that speaks proud things,
Who have said,
"With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own;
Who is lord over us?"
(Psalm 12:3-4)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:

The words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.
You shall keep them, O Lord,
You shall preserve them from this generation forever.
(Psalm 12:6-7)

Our heavenly Father loves to communicate with His children. As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

-- Wisdom for your church leaders
-- Your activities for the day
-- Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! (2 Timothy 4:18).

[Judy Harder]

July 22

Job 1

After meeting with God, Satan receives permission to test Job.

INSIGHT

If God is all good and all powerful, then why do the righteous suffer? Throughout the book of Job, questions of the ages arise. Job is a righteous man, and while he does not curse God, he does wonder why these things have happened. These same questions form today in the minds of people who observe or experience suffering. It is not wicked to ask these questions. All people struggle with these questions sooner or later. But we learn from Job that we can struggle without sinning.

PRAYER

God is trustworthy and kind. Because we know that He loves us with an everlasting love, we can praise Him:

I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
From the wicked who oppress me,
From my deadly enemies who surround me.
(Psalm 17:6-9)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:

The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
(Psalm 18:4-6)

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
(Psalm 18:16-18)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

-- Health and strength
-- Guidance for local political leaders
-- Your pastor and his family

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
(Psalm 18:46)

[Judy Harder]

July 23

Job 42

God blesses Job, restoring his good fortunes.

INSIGHT

Throughout life, there are things we do not understand. As we mature, we begin to understand. Likewise, we do not understand why the righteous must suffer. But someday, in heaven, we will understand. It will make sense. In the midst of Job's struggle, he makes some incisive observations that help us cope until we receive full understanding: "When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" (23:10). "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (13:15).

PRAYER

Though we do not always understand the Lord, we can always trust Him and give Him our praise:

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its going down
The Lord's name is to be praised. . .
Who is like the Lord our God,
Who dwells on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? . . .
He grants the barren woman a home,
Like a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 113:1-3, 5-6, 9).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

Rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
(Joel 2:13)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:.

As you make your requests to the Lord include:

-- Greater love for your family
-- Missions in South America
-- Your activities for the day
-- Whatever else is on your heart

[Judy Harder]

July 24

Psalm 1

The righteous prosper as they delight in the Lord, while the wicked perish.

INSIGHT

In Jerusalem, each gate is named for the destination of the road leading away from it. There is the Joppa Gate, leading to Joppa; there is the Damascus Gate, leading to Damascus. Some of these gates are very close together, but their destinations are very far apart. Life is like that. The psalmist says there are basically two gates in life: the "wicked gate" and the "righteous gate." Your destination in life depends upon which gate you choose. The "righteous gate" begins at the Word of God and leads to trees, water, and fruit. The "wicked gate" starts with man's counsel and leads to wind and chaff.

PRAYER

Thank and praise the Lord that He always leads us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake:
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth. . . .
The Lord has been mindful of us;
He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron. . . .
But we will bless the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 115:1, 12, 18).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond
what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape,
that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
O Lord, You are the portion of my
inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance (Psalm 16:5-6).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Faithfulness with your finances
-- Revival among Christians in America
-- Safety for vacationing families

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).

[Judy Harder]

July 25

Psalm 19

The works of God are declared in the heavens, and the words of God lead to righteousness.

INSIGHT

A creator is known by his creation; an artist is known by his art; a musician by his music; and a sculptor by his sculpture. God can be known by the universe that He has created. Psalm 19:1 says: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." Romans 1:20 says: "since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen." Judging from nature, God exists and has power, intelligence, and a flair for beauty!

PRAYER

The Lord is greater than our deep longings, and we praise Him that He satisfies our hearts:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord;
Praise Him, O you servants of the Lord! . . .
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant. . . .
I know that the Lord is great,
And our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases He does,
In heaven and in earth,
In the seas and in all deep places. . .
Blessed be the Lord out of Zion,
Who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!  (Psalm 135:1, 3, 5-6, 21).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust" (Psalm 91:1-2).

As you make your requests known to the Lord include:
-- An eternal perspective
-- Your spiritual goals
-- Local prison ministries

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11).