Ephesians 6:10–13 (NLT) — 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Esther 4:13–17 (NLT) — 13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Four Questions in a Critical Moment:

1. Confront your heart

• Calloused or Caring
  • Matthew 24:12–13 (NLT) — 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• Passive or Passionate
• Fearful or faithful

2. Cleanse your mind

• Confused or Clear
  • 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT) — 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
  • Ephesians 5:17 (NLT) — 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
• Polluted or Pure
• Distracted or Focused

3. Prepare your words

• Timid or Bold
• Cruel or Loving
  • Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) — 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
  • 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NLT) — 1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
• Emotional or Wise
  • When a crisis hits, can you speak with wisdom?
  • Luke 9:54–55 (NASB95) — 54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;

4. Direct your feet

• Planted or Hopping
  • Psalm 92:13 (ESV) — 13 They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
• Fixed or Sliding
  • Ephesians 4:14 (NLT) — 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
• Obeying or Running
  • Jonah ran. Esther stood. Where are your feet taking you?
  • Sometimes your feet go where you want them to go. God is wanting people who will allow their feet to go where HE wants them to go.