Esther: What fasting moves the Lord to do

Three days later Esther dressed in her royal robes and took up a position in the inner court of the palace in front of the king's throne room. The king was on his throne facing the entrance. When he noticed Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased to see her; the king extended the gold scepter in his hand. Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter." (Esther 5:1-3 MSG)

What fasting can do. After three days of the Hebrews fasting she probably put her foundation and color makeup on and the royal robe that matched her eyes. All the while she was praying for safety for her and her people.

Someone can be beautiful but beauty doesn't overcome the evil one. Only prayer and fasting for the hand of God to move overcomes evil. It sounds like she stood just within the court quietly waiting on God to move. Her beauty caught King Xerxes eye. He loved her, a love that came from a wife who had prayed for a memory of their good times within him. When she saw his smile she felt the peace that God had heard the many cries of His people.

She still had work to do but she had found favor in God's eyes when she was received by the king. She fixed dinner, Xerxes and Haman ate and Esther told them "come back again," So she prepared lamb and fresh bread and all the trimmings. She let the king get just a bit of wine in him. That way he was at ease but his judgment was still sharp.

She told him about Haman's plan. He was incensed so Haman was hung and Esther, King Xerxes and Mordecai got together and came up with a plan to save the Jewish people.

Fasting doesn't always produce the results we ask for, although it did here and most of the time does. But fasting, like prayer, changes our heart. I believe angels minister to one who has chosen to let go of something dear to them. And i believe most powerfully of all that it opens up a clear, heart path to heaven, straight into the throne room.