Remember youthful days. Usually we had one or two people who moved us to want to be just like them. Even today there may be individuals who make us think "If I were 20, 30, or 40 years younger, I think I could aspire to those footsteps.
The Old Testament Queen Esther could easily be one of those we might like to follow. When she learned that her husband had been asked by another king to annihilate the Jewish minority in his kingdom, Esther decided she had to do something to change his mind. She accomplished several behind the scenes events that ultimately brought her to her husband king with the petition not to carry out the request.
She made her request with great confidence because she was a woman who deeply believe that Yahweh's promises which she had heard read from the Book of Psalms. God would always be available to those who followed Yahweh's command and who show their love for him. And the Jewish community was spared because of this woman's commitment.
We were called to consider our own prayer on Tuesday. Could our prayer be as strong as this woman's prayer? With all that is happening in our country and world today, some are convinced that God does not listen to the people who are praying to him. Is this really the case? Do we truly believe that God listens to us when we pray? Does our not "getting" what we ask for ... like a child on Christmas Day does not find the present he/she wanted ... cause us to doubt? cause us to feel hurt?
