Before Esther became a Queen, she was just a young woman like us. She was an orphan girl with a heart full of high hopes and dreams. She probably had the same desires and fears that we have. I'm sure she went through days of doubt, not knowing what her purpose was going to be in life. Little did she know, that she was chosen and predestined. She was about to walk into the incredible destiny that God had prepared for her, but it took a little time. She still had to learn, grow and prepare herself as a woman before she could ever enter into that next phase of being a wife and Queen.
When Esther and the virgins were summoned into the palace to possibly be chosen as the next queen, the Bible says that she had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments; six months in oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics. Esther had to learn the ways of the Kingdom before she could ever unite with what God had for her. Those 12 months were life changing for her and who knows what God revealed to her in that time, but she found her purpose. Her heart was transformed. She became a woman of faith and of excellence, but the process was difficult.
I can't imagine how discouraging it was to her heart at times, seeing her promise before her everyday but not being able to receive it. Yet she never lost hope. Esther believed in what most people thought was impossible!!
God's timing was perfect for her life, and in all those 12 months of waiting and preparing, God was not only working on Esther's heart, He was working on the Kings heart. When that night finally came to go unto the King, the anointing was all upon her and He saw that. She obtained grace and favor in his sight and completely captivated his heart. He put the royal crown upon HER head, and made her queen. That was the moment she had prepared so long for, and it was worth the wait. Every day of Esther's life, God was shaping her for that very special moment. She became Esther, before she was Esther!
She went on to be one of the most courageous and anointed women in the Bible. Her story of preparation and saving the Jewish people has become an incredible example to many generations, especially to many single women like myself. From the very beginning, God had a plan for her, and because of her faithfulness, He blessed her not only with the man of her dreams but with such an amazing, blessed life.
Like Esther, many of us have that same longing desire to find that man who will sweep us off our feet and that we'll have that happily ever after with. When we were being formed in our mothers womb, God breathed that desire in our spirits to want to be wives and mothers someday. That's all we ever dream of, but we lack patience, and sometimes we can get so caught up in that dream, that we take our eyes off God and choose less than His best. We tend to waste this time of singleness, when we should be cherishing every second of it! God is wanting us to use this time to prepare like Esther, to learn HIS ways before we are joined to the heart that we are destined to be with.
That's why this time of singleness is PRECIOUS!! It's a time to cultivate beauty and build virtue. A time to let God transform our hearts NOW, so that we can be that virtuous woman that our one day husband needs, but how do we become like that? By being crazy faithful to Jesus, in that secret place communing with Him and letting Him teach us how to be that Proverbs 31 & Titus 2 woman. Ladies: When we're in the presence of God there is not only an INWARD change, but an OUTWARD change, because it will show such a RADIANT BEAUTY. There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who is God-fearing, virtuous, gentle, kind, and passionately in love with Jesus. The right man will cherish and protect that! Just like the Lord, that man will see your heart and not just your outward appearance. I'm not saying that your outward appearance isn't important though, because it is. I do believe as women of God it is very important that we take care of the temple we've been blessed with. There's nothing wrong with putting on a little makeup and dressing up. Even Esther prepared with perfumes and cosmetics. So that's a part of being a lady, but don't think that your worth is valued by any of that. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! Your price is far above rubies, and you shouldn't be treated any less.
So ladies: don't be discouraged if you're still single! God has a reason for it, and it's just not yet time for you to meet your Prince. God may be keeping you in the palace for a little bit longer, because there might be a few things you still need to learn. Remember, God makes ALL THINGS beautiful in HIS TIME. If you remain faithful to Him, He will remain faithful to you! Every season in life has beauty and wonder of its own, so be CONTENT. Stay focused, and before you know it your promise will be before your feet!
Kenya-Nicole Gossett is 19 years old and has been in full-time ministry her whole life. The Lord graced her to go on her first missions trip at the age of 16 months, and since then she has traveled and lived abroad 22 times, doing the work of ministry. Last year, the Lord gave her the vision for "Becoming Esther," a ministry that would raise up young women in the fear of the Lord, keeping them pure until marriage and teaching them to prepare themselves, not only for their Heavenly King but for their husbands as well. The ministry has gone into several nations and is supporting her father's world outreach, which is in Kenya, Philippines, India, Pakistan and Myanmar. Kenya's whole desire is to see young women worldwide be Born Again, healed and set free, to know their worth and value unto the Lord. Follow them on Twitter: @BecomingEsther and visit their website, BecomingEsther.org :)
Becoming Esther
For Such a Time as This
"It's a time to cultivate beauty and build virtue. A time to let God transform our hearts NOW, so that we can be that virtuous woman that our one day husband needs, but how do we become like that?
By being crazy faithful to Jesus, in that secret
place communing with Him and letting Him teach
us how to be that Proverbs 31 & Titus 2 woman."
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By Kenya-Nicole Gosset