Esther 5:1-8 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you." "If it pleases the king," replied Esther, "let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him." "Bring Haman at once," the king said, "so that we may do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, "Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted." Esther replied, "My petition and my request is this: If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king's question."
Esther got all dolled up before she went to see her husband. How many of us have pulled this trick? There's a new dress at the store, or the garage needs cleaned or mom is coming over for dinner and we pull out all the stops to do what we think is going to attract the attention of our husband.
Only upon seeing his wife, she didn't even have to speak, and he said "what can I give you, whatever you want?" You can't get a much better response than that! If Esther had known that this was going to be the kings reaction to her, do you think she would've prepared such a big banquet for him and her enemy? Is that the way we do it sometimes, we try to take the shortest route possible, do the least amount of work - just enough to get the job done.
When we take the time to pray and listen to what God tells us to do, there should be no shortcuts.
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