Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Times for Dec. 5-6 are written by Doug Tritton of Symphony Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Esther 6:12-13

Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”

If you have been following the NFL this season, you know that the Carolina Panthers are currently undefeated. Out of eleven games played, they have won eleven – no one has beaten them. Their quarterback, Cam Newton, has been quite dominant this season leaving many wondering, can he and the Panthers be overcome?

When Mordecai earned the praise and honor from the king, Haman was humiliated. He was already plotting against Mordecai and the Jewish people, but here he saw his foe being honored by his boss. How humiliating! But he probably thought his plan could still work.  However, adding fuel to the fire in Haman’s heart in that moment of weakness, Haman’s wife and friends told him, “Haman, you will lose. You cannot overcome the Jewish people.” Just like the Panthers cannot be overcome this season, the Jewish people could not be overcome.

Why is that? Because of the LORD. The book of Esther does not ever explicitly mention the name of the LORD, but His name is implied here. When the people say that the Jewish people cannot be overcome, they really mean that the LORD cannot be overcome. And how very true that is! He cannot be overcome – not then and not now.

In our own lives, we must remember that just as the Jewish people could not be overcome, we also cannot be overcome, because we also belong to the LORD. When we face adversity, when the going gets tough and we feel overcome, let’s remind ourselves that we are on the undefeated team. We belong to the LORD and He shall not be overcome!

Prayer: Lord, thank You that we are Yours. Help us to remember that since we belong to You, we cannot be overcome. Thank You for overcoming the world; we pray for Your strength to overcome the adversity in our own lives. May we not lose hope but rather cling to You through every trial.

 Bible Reading for Today: John 15