Sunday 9th January 2011 - Beryl Hunwicks

I have been reading the story of Esther over several weeks. She was a young orphan girl raised by her God fearing cousin, who through her obedience and faithfulness, is moved from obscurity to centre stage. God gives her faith and wisdom and she becomes the Queen that changes history for her people.

I was reminded of an outward bound centre which had a large obstacle course. There were parts of the course that were real challenges, demanding nerve, trust and team work and listening to the instructors. Parts of the course were easy and that helped to build the confidence for the challenging ones.

I believe that God wants to speak to us from the story of Esther and the Obstacle Course. I believe that there is going to be a gear change and that God is calling some to step up to the mark at the threshold of a new year. He is going to stretch your faith as never before just as he did with Esther and with the students on that course.

For some there will be new responsibilities in work and in the community. He will take you from a place of obscurity to where you will be seen more ‘for such a time as this’
I believe he wants to say to young people (30yrs and under) ‘don’t despise the day of small things ‘ because just as God trained Esther to trust and obey in the small things, He then moved her centre stage and she stepped up to the mark because she had proved God in the small things.

I believe God would say to many group leaders, some of whom have been leading small groups for years, that this year He is going to challenge you to step up to the mark and trust him for big things for your groups.

The final group that I believe God would encourage are those who are working into the community and showing care there. This year God will move some into strategic areas for His purposes and He would ask you to trust Him for the big challenges it will bring. As Esher trusted God in the biggest challenge of her life so it led to the saving of a nation.

‘In every circumstance, I am God. I want you to be a people who trusting in me, will be the right people to be on the right path to touch the right person at the right time.’