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THURSDAY — Big Decisions. Big God.
Today’s Big Point: You might be one decision away from making the most important turn in your life.

Do you remember the story of Todd Beamer, a passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93? His plane was hijacked during the September 11th terrorist attacks. Todd and other passengers had been in communication with people via in-plane and cell phones and learned that the World Trade Center had been attacked using hijacked airplanes. Beamer tried to place a credit card call through a phone located on the back of a plane seat but was routed to a customer-service representative instead, who passed him on to supervisor Lisa Jefferson. Beamer reported that one passenger was killed and, later, that a flight attendant had told him the pilot and co-pilot had been forced from the cockpit and may have been wounded. He was also on the phone when the plane made its turn in a southeasterly direction, a move that had him briefly panicking (Todd realized they had plans to destroy the lives of many, not just those on the plane). Later, he told the operator that some of the plane’s passengers were planning to “jump on” the hijackers. According to Jefferson, Beamer’s last audible words were “Are you guys ready? Let’s roll.” Like Esther, he knew what he needed to do and he made a decision to act, and saved many lives.

READ…What does the Bible say?
Romans 8:28 (New International Version)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Philippians 1:21 (New Living Translation)
21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Romans 12:21 (New International Version)
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

THINK…Find the answers
What does Romans 8:28 say about our life circumstances and occurrences?

What do you think Paul meant by what he said in Philippians 1:21?

What do you think are some of the reasons that Paul felt dying for Christ was even better than living for him?

LIVE…What will you do now?
How does knowing that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes make you feel about facing challenges that require courage?

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”

Recount some of the problems you have faced in the past that you now realize God has worked out for good.
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Read Romans 12:21 and ask yourself what kind of evil is currently trying to conquer you? How can you overcome evil with good?

You too can be used by the Lord by simply being faithful to Him wherever you are today. You may not be waking up to ideal circumstances, and you may not be in a place you would have chosen for yourself. Where has God planted you, and what is He asking you to do?

PRAY…God, what do You want me to know & do?
Dear God, I have become even more aware that the way You provided for Esther is the way You desire to provide for me as well. Thank you for Your active, transforming, and loving presence in my life. I pray I have the courage to act like Esther.

DAILY BIBLE READING COMMENTARY: Luke 8
Luke 8:50 “only believe: This miracle highlights not only the authority of Jesus, but also the response of faith that God honors” (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary 1267).
Luke 8:56 “The reason for Jesus’ command for silence in this verse is not entirely clear, given that anyone could have deduced what had happened. The situation seems odd in light of Jesus’ instruction to the demon-possessed man to proclaim what had occurred to him in 8:39, 45-47 and the public raising of the dead in 7:11-17. Jesus may have wanted to curtail such healings so that they would not become the center of His ministry” (Nelson’s 1268).