Esther and company prayed and fasted, enlisting God’s help in their desperate situation. God moved powerfully! On March 7, instead of horrific defeat the Jews experienced great victory. On March 8, many celebrated while the Jews in neighboring Susa experienced even more victories (Esther 9:1-14).
Around the world March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day. This year’s global theme is “Press for Progress.” We are asking sisters around the world to join together on March 7 for a day of prayer and fasting—asking God for personal spiritual progress, progress in our churches, progress in our families, and progress in shining the light of Jesus on this dark world.
On March 8 each sister is asked to join with your sisters around the world in making spiritual progress—something definitive that shows God (and you) your desire to be all he desires for you to be.
Imagine what God can do (actually, he can do more than we can imagine according to Ephesians 3:20-21) when sisters around the world unite in prayer and fasting, and as together we press for progress.
Let’s all join together as we call upon our amazing God!
Share your ideas for action at pressforprogress.wordpress.com.
Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:12-14 (NRSV)
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. – Philippians 3:12-14 (MSG)