Our purpose in life is to give God our best and do anything for ourselves after — but too often we get that backwards and do everything for ourselves first while giving God what’s left over. Career, money, fame or material possessions will never bring us true joy, but when we’re obedient to God and put His call on our lives first, He utilizes us for His work and blesses us in the process.

Esther was put in a position to be used by God to save His people. But in order to fulfill her purpose, she first had to be prepared to obey — even if it cost her life. We, too, are given a choice to obey God daily. The question is, are we willing to lay down our own lives, deny ourselves, and follow Him?