Esther 5:7

"Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;"

Esther approaches the throne and the king has stuck out his sceptre for her. Thus, her life is preserved. And now she must deal with the matter at hand, she must deal with Haman and his evil ways against her people. The king has just permitted her to ask and she can ask anything up to half the kingdom. My petition and my request is - it is time to declare the need and request; And I would wonder of us tonight, have we made our petition and request known? What is it that is on your heart and mind? How often for the Christian and the church that do not make known their needs and requests. They keep them to themsevles, hoping all will work out on its own. How we sleight Him within our rejection and neglect. Let us look around us tonight and see the needs, can we not fill up the night with all that is required of us to pray over? Here is a family in crisis; here is a lost soul; this one refuses the invitation; that one rejects the message of salvation in Christ alone; there is the church in all its sin and shame; worship services without the anointing and power needed to awaken His people; a nation indulged in evil and millions perishing; a world laying hold upon false idols and hearing lies, while billions perish; and what of our own lilfe? Is there a family member needing prayer? Is there something in our own heart and soul that must be spoken unto Him? Do we see the needs that should be brought before Him as petitions and requests? Has your tonue been silent before the One that can hear and answer? How many requests? How many petitions? They are endless, and yet the Lord's people are silent. Truly, this is why we are in the condition we are. The lack of prayer to worship Him, to give thanks; the lack of confession over known sins and sorrow over our wounding Him; the lack of tears over the lost; and the lack of voicing the needs that press sore to our hearts. WE are found with this great weapon of prayer, and yet our voice is silent. Can we not learn from Esther and go to Him Who has stretched out the sceptre for us? WE have found mercy and grace by His loving hand. Will we reject such an opportunity? No, we have been blessed with a moment to pray. WE will see it for the opportuntiy that it is, just as Esther did. What if she had not gone to the king? Then the people would have perished. Can we not see the same with us? We cannot miss the moment to pray. 'But I give myself unto prayer. . " What of you?