MONDAY, JANUARY 25
Scripture: Esther 2:7

Esther woke up each day for most of her life in a similar situation to Daniel. She was in exile, a Jew living amongst Gentiles, foreigners who, unlike many Gentiles today, had no respect for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Esther did not know it until she was older, but God had arranged her birth and upbringing in the land of the Medes and Persians as a vehicle for the deliverance of her people at a critical moment. She had been raised by her cousin Mordecai. Mordecai was a man for whom the Bible offers little personal history. We know only that he raised Esther in the absence of her parents and that he was a righteous man. Those without children of their own ought to reframe their parental status. In the last days perhaps they are in a unique position to speak into the lives of others without the same kind of worry, fear, concern and emotions that parents carry. It is the duty of a parent to care for, direct and protect his/her children, and hopefully shield them in hard times. When planning for an end-time ministry, the fate of one’s children will always be part of the equation and indeed part of the deepest issues of the heart. Those without their own children can share more boldly in and amongst the world than those who have children. Their voice into the hearts of teens and young adults can carry weight, inspiration and value. When teens are individuating and looking for independence from parents, another significant adult can draw alongside with counsel and friendship that can make a world of difference. It is important to add that those without natural children can expect God to give them spiritual children! No matter our marital status or size of family, we should all expect to make life-contributions and spread our wings of nurturance over those who God has planted in our lives.