It’s taken me a little while to this write post. There’s just SO much I could say coming of the back of ‘A Million Women’ I didn’t really know where to start…
I had the absolute joy and privilege of being one of the 250,000+ that gathered on the Mall in Washington DC on October 12th (They said that around 4 million joined online too!! Wild). Getting to be there in person was such an answer to prayer, and I’m so grateful to those who helped get me there! It was another one of those ‘last minute book your flight on the way to the airport’ kind of trips - but it really was a testimony of the Lord’s provision! He is faithful! I also want to say a huge thank you to those who joined the prayer call on the Saturday morning. Lou and Therese Engle send their love and said a huge ‘thank you’ to all those who joined in prayer - whether you felt it or not, you were part of something significant and your voice mattered.
If you didn’t get to join in with any of it, you can still watch (all 10 HOURS!!) of the Million Women gathering here!
Over the past few weeks, I’ve watched with wonder as I’ve seen some of the things that we prayed for begin to shift… But the gathering on the Mall was just the beginning. In my last post I shared a dream that Christy Johnston had about a ‘Roar’ erupting (you can read it here). There was a moment towards the end of the gathering when Christy shared her dream and, as prophetic act, they literally smashed an altar as the crowd let out an almighty ROAR. It was a wild moment! But I believe that the Lord is wanting to release that roar amongst his sons and daughters across the globe - he’s wanting to release a roar within you and I. It’s the roar of the lion of the tribe of Judah to see Jezebel flee, demonic strongholds destroyed and principalities shattered. It’s not about how loud or wild we can be, but about rising up in our authority as sons and daughters of the Most High and taking our seat at the table and letting our voice be heard. Just like Esther.
I love the story of Esther and it’s one I’ve been reading a fair bit recently. But Esther’s story is far from glamourous. She was not born into a royal position or even a family of nobility; she was orphan raised by her cousin to a people who were in exile. At what was a probably a tender age, she was swept up with many other ‘beautiful, young virgins’ (Esther 2vs2) into the King’s harem. Yet, in the midst of that place, she won grace and favour with all who saw her, including the King. The King loved Esther more than all the other women, and thus he set the royal crown upon her head (Esther 2vs17). Humanly speaking, Esther was not ‘destined’ to be Queen. Yet, from the hiddenness of seemingly insignificant beginnings the Lord had ordained her for a purpose. And in the midst of a plan to annihilate her and her people, she found herself to be Queen. Talk about divine timing!
This story isn’t just about an unlikely candidate becoming Queen, but that of a woman who found herself divinely positioned in a critical moment. It’s the story of a woman who heeded the call to take a stand and risked her life to see a death decree overturned.
“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
On the day that Esther and her people were meant to be wiped out, they were the ones who saw victory over their enemies. Sorrow turned into gladness, mourning turned into joy.
Many of us are recognising that we really are in a pivotal moment. Lou likes to call these times ‘hinge of history’ moments. It’s not to pile on the pressure, but I think it’s important that we are awake and alert to recognise the day and the hour we are in. I think that’s why the story of Esther is so pertinent - she too was in a hinge of history moment. And Esther was one who changed the narrative. As did Jael (Judges 4&5), Deborah (Judges 4), Shifra & Puah (Exodus 1), and many more.
Since coming back from the Million Women gathering on the Mall in DC, I feel this roar rumbling inside of me. I’ve been rocked as I’ve been reading stories and statistics of things that are going on here in the UK. My heart feels grieved. Abortion rates are the highest they’ve ever been, Christians have been arrested for praying SILENTLY, the statistics showing the number of YOUNG children (under 10) that are exposed to (violent) pornography are staggering… and that’s barely scratching the surface. There really is a fierce battle over a generation. I don’t say that to spread concern or fear. Far from it. I believe the Lord wants to change the narrative. He wants to change the narrative from death to life. He wants to use you and I.
Esther’s first port of call was to pray and fast. We can do the same.
I’ve started meeting with a friend over a phone call once a week simply to pray. It’s powerful! I’d encourage you to do the same, and perhaps you are already. Find a friend and begin to pray. Ask the Lord how to respond. I’m asking the very same thing, and I feel a stirring within. I’m excited to see how the Lord will lead us in this hour as we yield to him.
Whether you’re an influential business woman, a church leader, a teacher, a mother, a sister or a friend… It’s time for us to take our place at the table. It’s time to see Haman overthrown and to see the deliverance of a generation.
Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Much love,
Katie
p.s. for those in London I’m looking to start doing monthly ‘Esther call’ prayer meetings and I’d love for you to join. It might just be a small group to start, but I just know it’s time act. Please reach out if you want to stay in the loop with where & when!
❤️so True x