Women Champions - part 3
Today we will finish our discussion of women champions. I encourage you to read the past two blog posts before you continue with this final installment.
Esther is our final champion example and my favorite, maybe because she had so many odds against her as an orphan or maybe because she was such a powerful queen. I do not know, but I love Esther and everything she represents. Whether we see her as a symbol of the Body of Christ or of ourselves personally, does not matter. Either way, she represents a champion of righteousness and truly a model Mother of Nations.
Esther’s story begins around 438 B.C. The King and his Queen Vashti had been partying for six months. The party lasted so long in order that everyone in the kingdom could attend. The culminating banquet was seven days long, ending with Queen Vashti making an entrance. For some reason, when she was summoned by the King, she refused to come. Some scholars say she was pregnant, some say she had her own party going. Others think she was not in the mood to be paraded around in front of drunk men. No matter what her reason, Queen Vashti said no, and the King ended up dismissing her as queen. This led to a search for a replacement, and through that process, Esther became the choice of the King.
Where do we find the champion in this story? Also, what do we see about a champion in the making? Let’s look at several characteristics of champions that Esther represents.
1. Champions get into the race or enter the contest. There is no champion made unless a battle is won, unless a competition takes place. Esther joined the fight for a queen. Even with all the odds against her, Esther entered the contest. She was an orphan, a foreigner, a very young girl, and completely inexperienced, yet she did not allow those barriers to hinder her.
2. Champions align themselves with the right company. Esther joined hearts with Hegai, the custodian of the women. The minute Hegai met her, he liked her. Esther 2:9 (NKJV) He provided her with cosmetics and food and gave her seven choice maids from the King’s palace and transferred her and her maids to the best place in the harem. Esther became his project, teaching her the “ins and outs” of palace life.
3. Champions walk in favor. Favor means Esther found herself getting special treatment, extra blessings, and privileges. Her whole life may not have been that way, but now all of a sudden, things were happening to her benefit.
4. Champions have to be willing to change. We cannot expect to become a champion, walk like a champion, or even live like one unless we make changes in our lives. Esther went through changes of location, of internal thinking, of environment, and of dress, clothes, and perfumes. She also had to change her mental image of herself from an orphan to a queen. Can you imagine the wrestling that went on in her heart and mind as God worked these changes in her?
5. Champions end up in a season of preparation like no other. Esther sat for six months over a charcoal fire in a pit on the floor. Fragrant oil like sandalwood, myrrh, cloves, or rose would be put into the cosmetic burner, and with all her clothes off, she crouched over the burner with a robe draped over her head and body to create a tent. She was in a literal steam room perspiring and smelling all those fragrances. She had those fragrances “cooked” into her skin through the hot steam.
Preparation for championship often sends us to the “sweatshop.” Have you ever found yourself in a hot situation only to discover what comes out of your pores is not the sweet fragrance of the Lord? You end up back in the “sweatshop” until your “flavor” (words and attitude) smells sweet!
6. Champions are developed communicators. They have learned when to speak and when not to speak. They have learned that words carry power. Esther knew that some things should remain quiet and hidden until needed or necessary. Trusting her uncle’s judgment, she did not reveal her heritage.
In our lives, in trusting the Holy Spirit, we learn what to say and when to say it. Mordecai was to Esther like the Holy Spirit is to us. He was her confidant, advocate, and friend. She could trust him to lead her in the right direction and to give her wise counsel. Women champions learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit as He teaches them to communicate.
Esther never asked for anything more than what the King’s eunuch suggested. She was wise to yield to someone who knew the King well. Learning to walk like a champion requires each of us to listen to those who have served our King, our Lord Jesus, longer than us. They have learned His likes and dislikes. They know what clothing to wear, what manners to demonstrate, what ethics to follow, and what heartfelt participation to give. Esther knew the eunuch wanted her to do well.
There are many wonderful people in the Body of Christ who can encourage us, teach us, and help us develop as champions as well. We just need to ask questions and listen to the answers. We must learn the ministry talk as Esther learned the palace talk.
Over the years of preparation for ministry, I have had many moments of success and many others of failure. In each situation, I had a choice to make. Either I could allow the situation to mature me in the Lord or I could allow the devil to destroy me with depression or pride. Satan never plays fair, and when God is developing us into His champions of faith and courage, we must learn to roll with the punches and press through the barriers. Esther would have her challenges to face, but her attitude would decide whether she would win or fail.
Champions, once they pass the contest, get a crown. Esther’s dream was that she became a queen. In our case, we might become smarter, wiser, or more discerning. When the crowns come after the testing, we move into a new level of authority. Often our anointing increases and our faith reaches for higher goals for the Kingdom of God.
Sacrifice is part of the walk of a champion. People who desire to make a difference in this world quickly discover their life is not their own. Opportunities come to make choices that either benefit society or benefit ourselves. Over the years in ministry, many times my husband and I have had to give things up for others to be helped. More than once we made choices to help others that required the loss of our own desires.
Esther discovered that championship required her having to surrender position, power, prestige, and future plans for herself. She had to choose the safety of her people over her own life. In the process of making such a choice, we discover what life really means to us. The Bible says that the person who lives to save his life will lose it anyway. Matthew 16:25 (NKJV) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. It is better to surrender to the lordship of Christ and let Him guide us in these decisions. Esther’s position of privilege did not exempt her from God’s requirements of her.
Champions face devils, mountains, obstacles, choices, and even their own heart. Just how far will we as Mothers of Nations go to affect our world? Just how much are we willing to surrender? Some people will not surrender their time, money, information they carry, their heart, or their life. A true champion will surrender whatever God requires.
The story of Esther ends with this champion of Israel saving the people. Her willingness to enter the race, her obedience to her authorities, her ability to sacrifice and surrender, and her wisdom in dealing with the enemy brought her victory. She was able to triumph in the middle of crisis. The devil lost, and Esther and her people won!
Esther the champion did something we should all do as Mothers of Nations. She planned her strategy and found a course to take so she might win the battle. She knew the cost involved could mean her life. Luke 14:28 (NKJV) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?
Good planners make successful leaders. Joseph, through a dream from the Lord, knew he had to plan for seven good years and seven bad years. Noah knew through the Lord speaking to him that he had to plan for a flood. He heard the voice of God who told him how to fashion (plan) the boat. Moses received plans for the tabernacle. David dreamed about building the temple where God could dwell, and his son Solomon continued that dream, planning and completing it.
Women champions are rising all over the world today. Champions of righteousness are coming on the scene. Champions are expecting the Lord to work on their behalf. They are delighted to be serving God and His children. Recognizing they have a purpose on this earth, they desire to fulfill the assignments God has entrusted to them.
No matter who you are or where you come from, God desires to make a champion out of you. Take a step of faith and put your scepter out to the King. Ask Him for favor and release your gifts and callings to Him. The King will welcome your presence, hear your request, and grant you your petition.
Lord, make us women champions!
Dr. Sharon Predovich
