(By Kim)
Recently as I was reading the book of Esther in the Bible, one Scripture literally popped up from the pages and wouldn’t let go of my mind for a long time.
Esther 6:1 says, That night the king had trouble sleeping…
Now there was no alarming situation in the land of Persia at that time for king Xerxes to lose sleep over. All was going well in his kingdom. Yet, that night sleep escaped the king.
Reason?
The Jews in that land were in prayer, banging the doors of heaven and seeking a divine intervention. This Gentile king had passed a decree stating that all Jews – young and old, including women and children – must be killed, slaughtered and annihilated on a single day (Esther 3:13).
But after that night, there was a change in the course of events. Soon a new decree was signed by king Xerxes which granted the Jews in all his provinces the right to destroy, kill, annihilate and plunder the property of their enemies!
The victim had become the victor!
Another King lost his sleep too…
Something similar happened in the book of Daniel in the Bible with another king. In Daniel 6:19 we read about King Darius who couldn’t sleep one night. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t eat too!
Reason?
Daniel, the prophet was praying his Living God. He was cast in the den of hungry lions for not bowing down and praying to man. But the Bible says in Proverbs 21:1 that the heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord and He can turn it the way He turns a watercourse.
When the sun rose next morning, everything changed! Seeing Daniel alive and well in the midst of those lions, King Darius repealed his decree and wrote to all the people, nations and men of every language throughout the land to fear and worship Daniel’s God.
It took just one night for things to turnaround
Both these above mentioned kings opposed God’s people. But it was only a matter of one night.
One night.
That night after which the situation turned upside down. That night, when the men of God wrestled in prayer.
Some of you are worried about what is happening in your family. Some of you are worried about the current state of affairs in your church. Some of you are worried about the one who is heading your company. Some of you are worried about the one who is heading your country.
It’s time we stop spending our nights worrying about our situations, rather lets soak ourselves in prayer. And your God and my God is able to cause someone else to lose his sleep to see His purpose stand victorious!
Remember sometimes one night is all it takes.