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Revisit this page each week to journal your answers to questions on the chapter for each week.

For ease, we have divided each week's reading into three parts, with journaling for each part. You might want to read on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and journal on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; or you might prefer to read and journal on the same day, three times a week.

Queen of Beauty and Courage

 Day One: page 227 to last paragraph of page 232

• Compare and contrast either Queens Vashti and Esther, or Mordecai and Haman.  Consider how their actions and words reveal their characters, and synthesize your conclusions into a simple life lesson that applies to you today.

• Mordecai seemed to have God’s Upper Story in view when he sent word to Esther, “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”  When has God most recently placed you in a position to serve a greater purpose than you desired?  How did that make you feel?

 Day Two: last paragraph of page 232 to 236 break

• How did Esther respond to Mordecai’s instruction to approach the king and beg for mercy (p. 232-233)?  Other than courage, what else was driving Esther’s response? 

• The story of Esther demonstrates the need for fasting when facing a major crisis. Fasting is not an effort to “bribe” God into granting our request, but instead is done in reverence of His sovereignty and to focus our efforts.  Have you ever fasted? What was the result? 

Day Three: page 236 break to end of chapter

• A Medo-Persian king’s edicts could not be repealed.  How might your words or speech be different if you could not undo them?  (See Matt. 5:37, James 3:1-11, James 5:12 and Eph. 4:29.)  What should characterize a Christian’s words?

• What was supposed to be a day of great destruction became a day of great deliverance and celebration of God’s faithfulness.  If you were to commemorate a time when God delivered you or providentially watched over you, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?