Behind the Scenes
By
Lisa Boyer
“Sing
to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.”
Psalm
105:2 (NIV)
A few years ago, while
driving to church in the snow on New Year’s Day, I was filled with anticipation
- - anticipation of worshipping God that morning. I had woken up early and had
already been spending time with Him, yet I couldn’t wait to worship Him with my
church family!
Thoughts of the year
gone by drifted in and out of my mind... it had been a rough year, but never
before had I been so convinced of His personal love and care for me than this
year, this rough year. I just couldn’t wait to sing His praise! The irony of
having a rough year and yet being so convinced of His love and care wasn’t lost
on me and I couldn’t help but smile. In spite of everything, and I mean
everything, He was there.
Worshipping with my
church family was sweet, but even more sweet was the blessing of the message,
“Behind the Scenes where God’s at work” from the book of Esther. The pastor
made three main points (1):
1. “God is
always at work behind the scenes whether we recognize it or not.” Esther
1:1-10:3
Ah ha! Wasn’t that exactly what I had
been thinking? He is! He really is! I saw Him!!!
2. “God
does not have us (you) in this place at this time by chance or by mistake.”
Esther 3:7, 9:1, 4:13-16 “Trust His placement” Esther 4:14b, “Trust His timing”
Esther 4:14c, “Trust His plan” Esther 4:14a
Ohhhhh, that had been a tough one
this year. I had been diagnosed with a serious condition in March, but I chose
to trust Him in the midst of it. And then, a few weeks ago, a woman I encounter
frequently in the course of my job gave me a gift. It was a red cardinal with
the word “faith” on it. She said she had to get it for me when she saw it,
“because you are so full of faith.” Could it be that God is using my faith in
these circumstances to draw others closer to Him? I pray so!!
3. “Recognize
what God has done & celebrate it!” Esther 9:20-32
Now, that was what I
had come to church to do that morning!! I had recognized His hand in preparing
my heart for the journey… I had recognized His hand preparing the path I would
take… I had recognized His hand in whom He surrounded me with during that time…
I had recognized Him in it, in all of it and I had come to
celebrate!!!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you not
seen God at work behind the scenes in your life? Today, will you pray and ask
Him to show you?
2. Will you trust
His placement, timing and plan?
FURTHER READING:
(1) Pastor Roger Ellis,
Oakwood Church, Delafield, WI, January 1, 2012
Lisa
has been married to Ted for more than 20 years and they have two teenage sons.
Lisa administers Fresh Start’s Facebook and blog, and loves hanging out with
and impacting teenage girls for Christ.
