Why the “Queen Esther Preparation?”

Since ending 2014, the Lord has been laying on my heart the need to undergo a period of preparation.

“Preparation towards what?.” I asked.

Preparation towards my dreams, aspirations, ministry, goals, plans, future and even more specifically, marriage.

Now I have to say that unlike most women, I haven’t thought much about marriage. I have thought about who ‘the one’ could be yes, but hardly marriage. I have given no thought even to the wedding day, as to what colours and what nots I would want on that grand day and much less to how exactly I would be able to cope with living together as husband and wife with the man God has for me.

To me, marriage seemed to be all about two people that fall in love with each other and then decide to be together yet now I have gained an understanding that marriage is much more than that. Marriage is work; but I believe it’s the “I love you so I want things to work out between us,’ type of work.

So why prepare?

Why can’t the person God will bring just take me as I am?

The response I got to this question was, why didn’t the bridegroom take the ‘foolish virgins’ as they were? Why were they called foolish anyway?

They were foolish because they were ‘unprepared’.

1″Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,  4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.  5As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.  6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’  7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.  8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  9But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’  10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.  11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’  12But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’13Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Mt 25 ESV)

Obviously this parable is one that has deeper revelations and theories backing it. It speaks highly of our callings and destinies here on this earth. What are you doing in relation to that dream, talent or vision God has given you? Are you shining that lamp? Are you ‘preparing’ it to be worthy in the sight of God? Let’s also take it from the marriage standpoint, shall we?

I certainly don’t want to enter marriage wishing I had prepared in certain ways for it before jumping the broom. So when I finally began to seek God out on this; He started sending people my way who will call me out and say simply to me, “Read the Book of Esther.”

(To learn more about her; check my first post). She allowed herself to go through a twelve months period of rigorous preparation before she went in to see King Xerxes/Ahasuerus:

12Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women (ESV Est 2:12)

Within this period, I daresay that she sort to learn more about her who her husband to be is. She learnt the way and manner in which a queen must behave should she be picked. The English word Myrrh is from Greek word murra which when compared with the Arabic word murr, means ‘bitter’.

Hun, the period of preparation isn’t going to be easy. Esther had to go through ‘bitter oils’ before her life was spiced up! Just because your king isn’t in sight doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare. Just because your graduation date is far off doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare to receive distinctions on your certificate. Just because your dream of owning something or starting something seems so far off; does not mean you shouldn’t prepare towards it.

Opportunity wastes no time with those who are unprepared.

You failed at something so you are disheartened to try again? To prepare for a comeback? You suffered a break up so the concept of Queen Esther Preparation annoys you? So you are just going to go through the motions of life?

Girl, please.

Chin up and Queen Up!

Take this journey with me:

Jesus loves you and I do too,

Queens in Christ,

 Ann Manu❤