Our Spring series is entitled Preppers.
Our definition of prepping is "Making preparations for something or to do something." The intent of our series is to look at the lives of some Bible characters who could be identified by that term and to learn some lessons that will help us to be more like Jesus.

Discussion: What are a few of the major decisions you've made over the years? Looking back, what did you learn from these decisions?

Today we are looking at an incredible young woman named Esther, who was used by God to thwart a plot to exterminate the lives of her people, the Jews.

How many choices have you made today? Some sources suggest that the average adult makes 35,000 choices per day. Once you factor in sleeping, that's roughly 2,000 decisions per hour or a decision every 2 seconds.
According to researchers at Cornell University, we make 226.7 decisions each day just on food alone.

Each choice carries certain consequences, good and bad. And they compound; building upon each other.
Our decisions and choices affect not only ourselves, but also many others, now and in the future.

There are many ways in which decision making can be handled:

GO FOR IT: Choose the first option you are given and be done with it. We see a guy named Lot doing this in Genesis.

PLEASE THEM: Going with the most popular option as it pertains to those impacted. People of Israel choosing Saul to be their King.

HOT POTATO: Pushing decisions off to others so you don’t have to share the blame if something goes wrong. Pontius Pilate washed his hands of Jesus.

OSTRICH: Stick head in the sand – to make NO decision is to make a decision. King Herod Agrippa in Acts 26 listened to Paul’s testimony and did nothing.

WEIGHT SCALES: Weighing the factors involved before making a decision. Man lowered thru the roof to be healed. Jesus said take your mat and GO!

PRIORITIZING: Making decisions that best align with your priorities and values. Disciples dropping their fishing nets to deepen their relationship with the Lord and to follow Him in a life of service.

Today we'll look at Esther's story to learn some lessons that will help prepare us for the moment when God desires to use our life for something significant.
Esther 4:12-17 (specifically verse 14)

Here are a few lessons we can draw from our reading of this book:

1. God permits CIRCUMSTANCES to develop character and convictions.
Genesis 45:7; 50:20

2. God brings specific CHARACTERS to shape and sharpen us for the journey.
Proverbs 13:20 [NLT]

3. God uses verbal CHALLENGES to confront our attitudes and actions.

4. God creates CHOICES to test our faith and obedience.
Deuteronomy 8:2

F.A.I.T.H. is a matter of...
F-acing the situation
A-sking for wisdom
I-nspecting the options
T-rusting God to guide us
H-aving the courage to take steps of obedience