Jesus is worth waiting for… every moment. He’s worth experiencing… every second. Waiting upon the Lord, affection rises. He is the King of all. He beckons us.

When you’re getting ready to see the King, you prepare yourself for the exchange.

Patience raises the value of something. It enhances the potency of its substance. Like a fine wine. Like a garden blossoming.

In Esther chapter 2, we see this unfold as we read about the beautifying time en route to meet the King. 

“Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed 12 months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women… 6 months with oil of myrrh & 6 months with perfumes & preparations for beautifying women.”
‭‭Esther‬ ‭2:12‬

Before we see Jesus in Heaven, we’re given a whole life on earth of preparation. Until we wait for Him, we seek His face… and find our hearts and soul made more like Him in the process.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Jesus is worth beautifying ourselves for Him. 

Jesus is beautiful…

and so you are.

It’s a beauty He gave you in His image and entrusts you to steward well. It’s a beauty He crafts within you that His Holy Spirit and trials of life fashion.

Submit to that refining process and you’ll come out shining like silver and gold. 

“This third I will put into the fire;
    I will refine them like silver
    and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
    and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”  Zechariah 13:9

As we go on in Esther chapter, 2 we find Esther chosen as queen.

“The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” Esther 2:17

After Esther becomes queen, her uncle Mordecai comes to her to inform her of the plot by Haman, one of the king’s officials, to kill the Jews. He asks her to do something to prevent this from happening.

Esther has a big decision to make and will go to the king, unsummoned.

Her preparation year has made her ready for such a time as this.

It’s so important for us to yield to the seasons of waiting that God places us in because it gives us treasures and wisdom we will need in the next season. Patience always produces benefits. 

Esther learned through beautifying one must prepare before going to the king. So she does.

You know how she prepared herself?

By fasting and praying for 3 days. I love this.

“Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:15-16

Esther shows incredible courage and patient but fierce resolve.

Esther does not rush nor act on impulse. She is patient to wait upon the Lord to hear from Him in how she should approach the king. And to ready her heart for this encounter.

This makes her potent to impact the king… because God spirit’s was flowing in her powerfully.

“When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight…” Esther‬ ‭5:2

She won his heart… and soon he will grant her request.

“And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” Esther 5:6

God anointed her to win the heart of the King. Because of His Holy Spirit in her’s and God’s sovereignty over his.

I’m reminded of Psalm 21:1 that says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

God is in charge of King Ahaseurus. And so He melts his heart for Esther… so in all of this, it’s ultimately God who is orchestrating everything.

God is the King we need to seek before anyone else.

As Esther seeks the true King… God… she is given favor from the Persian king.

The Bible tells us in chapter 1 of Esther that her beauty is all surpassing externally but it’s who she is internally that makes her queen.

She seeks the Lord first.

Seeking the Lord beautifies you. 

Your face is shining upon me

as I seek Your gaze

looking back at me

one glimpse

and I am kissed

by love

always enough

Going before God is the way we prepare. He anoints us & readies us for what He calls us to.

Waiting upon Jesus… the potency of His power arises in you.

Waiting upon the Lord… I love to wait on Him. It’s never too long and it’s never too short to know He’s moving closer… what He has is worth the times it takes.

I’d wait all day

to hear You call my name

and hold me 

in Your embrace

that never loses warmth

I’m safe

with You

in never-ending wonder

I’m coming for you

My love

Patience is a result of deep-rooted contentment. When you’re happy in life, you are naturally patient.

You don’t have to try… because you’re already satisfied and everything else is just rubies on top.

A lack of contentment will produce a lack of patience. 

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Proverbs 14:29

In the book of Esther, Haman shows us an example of being quick-tempered and impulsive. He created laws that were unethical and meant to destroy the Jews. He wanted men to bow before him, and would not bow before the true King: Yahweh. So Mordecai would not bow before Haman as he passes through the street in Esther 3:2. And neither does Esther. She knows who the true king is. And she gives him honor.

Esther is not shaken upon hearing of Haman’s plan.

She knew God was in charge of all… and she knew He would have the final say.

This tells us she is anchored in a hope much bigger than her and the palace.

Esther is anchored in the God of the Royal Palace of Heaven. So she focuses on fasting and praying so she can go before the king. Because she believes God will fight this battle.

“Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7

When you’ve discovered flowing contentment in the Lord, irritability will never find you. Frustration is non-existent. This comes from a deep love relationship with Him. You’re happy when you’re in love. And love satisfies.

But impulse will ruin what God is trying to create.

You cannot rush into the Promised Land. We must walk the path God takes us on. Impulse uproots the garden before it blooms. Impulse will rob you of the most ecsatic experience. But patience heightens it.

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Proverbs 25:28

Galatians 5:23 talks about the fruits of the spirit which include “Gentleness and self-control; against such things there is no law.” 

How do you know when to be patient and when to move in power?

That is found in seeking God’s face… like Esther did. Seek God patiently first in the secret place… and then He will tell you how to move in power. Everytime I seek Him, He tells me what to do… and your spirit knows… because His Holy Spirit is speaking to you…guiding you. Interact with Jesus in a love relationship and you will know what to do.

“But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” Titus 1:8

When you’re a “lover of good,” you experience the depths and the heights of real love… God’s love… full of passion that constantly pours on You from His heart. It breeds contentment.

You feel fulfilled in every way when you have this kind of love ruminating in your heart from the Lord.

Learn to cultivate patience in seeking the Lord and you will see your life awaken with potent passion.

Waiting on Jesus, diamonds generate. Power emanates. Contentment flourishes & only heightens your experience of all God does. He is the Beautiful One… Let Him beautify you by His presence. 

“One thing I ask from the Lord that I will seek after: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.”

Psalm‬ ‭27:4‬