At Christmas time, people are scurrying about buying gifts for those they love. We take our kids to see Santa and they get an opportunity to sit in his lap and tell them what they want for Christmas. So many times, we buy gifts thinking we know the exact perfect gift for them, only to discover that they already had it, or didn’t want that gift at all. So for my clan, I simply go back to the Santa tradition and ask them, “What do you want for Christmas?”
When it comes to being a priest, one of the things we get to do is stand before God and minister to Him. (If you haven’t read the previous blogs, I would encourage you to go back and read about all we get to be a part of as a priest! )
Not too long ago, I was studying the book of Esther as I prepared to record a video teaching about her life. (Click HERE to get it)
In Esther 2:12-15 it says this, “Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail ) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.”
Based on this Scripture, Esther must have asked the king’s eunuch what the king would like. She knew that he would know what most pleased the king.
When it comes to being a priest, and us getting to stand before God and minister to Him, I want to challenge you to begin asking your King what He desires from you in worship.
“How can I worship You, Lord, in the way that most pleases you this morning?”
The first time I asked this question, I was worshipping with my faith family in corporate worship. The Lord said, “Lift up your head.” I immediately noticed that I almost always bow my head when I worship. I wondered if maybe I bow my head in honor, to show His Kingship over me, or maybe there was a tinge of shame in there. But not that day. The Lord told me to lift my head, and I did. Immediately, it was like a fountain of light and water running over me. I cannot fully describe what I felt….just free, accepted, loved, delighted in. My desire to please my Father resulted in me finding pleasure from Him.
My desire to please my Father resulted in me finding pleasure from Him.
Maybe He will ask you to take off your shoes because you are on holy ground. Maybe He will ask you to kneel, or lift up your head. Whatever it may be, I encourage you to ask your King what He desires in worship that would bring Him the most pleasure and then, be obedient. It will be one of the most intimate times with the Lord that you have ever had.
“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.”
Psalm 3:3
You are loved,
Jena
Can’t wait to start the LOVE study in January! Pray about starting a group! I will have a small group training for you and give you everything you need to get started! Details coming soon!!!