Hebrews 11:1 tells us what faith is:“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is mentioned throughout God’s Word: Ephesians 2:8 Hebrews 11:3 Matthew 21:21 Galatians 2:16 James 1:3 These are just a few references. We often talk about faithful believers like Abraham, Enoch, Sarah, Isaac, and so many more. I’m sure you’re already naming some in your head now. Don’t we all long to be faithful? Matthew 17:20 says: “For truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Recently, I found myself reflecting on Queen Esther. Most of us know the famous line from Esther 4:14: “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” But before that comes another statement from Mordecai that deeply impacted me: “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place…” The first time I truly noticed that sentence, I remember thinking: I want faith like Mordecai. If you don’t know the story, I encourage you to read the book of Esther. Clearly Esther is the star of this book, as the book is named after her, and she is certainly a remarkable woman. Fun fact: the name Esther is derived from the Persian word for “star,” while her Hebrew name was Hadassah. Here is a brief synopsis: Esther was raised by her cousin Mordecai after her parents died. Mordecai was a faithful Jew who served in the king’s court. One day, he overheard a plot to assassinate the king. He informed Esther, who then warned the king in Mordecai’s name. The plot was stopped, and Mordecai’s loyalty was recorded in the king’s chronicles. Later, a man named Haman was promoted within the kingdom. Part of honoring Haman meant bowing before him. But Mordecai refused. Why? Because Mordecai served one God. Haman became furious and devised a plan to destroy all the Jewish people. What stands out to me is Mordecai’s steadfastness. Scripture shows us that he did not argue or create a scene. He simply refused to bow. There is something powerful about quiet obedience. About unwavering conviction. About remaining faithful even when pressure surrounds you. And it makes me ask myself: What do I bow to? What feels easier to surrender to than obedience to God? Do I bow to fear? Anxiety? Approval? Comfort? My flesh? Or does my heart bow only to my Maker? Mordecai’s refusal to bow created conflict, but his faith never wavered. When he told Esther that deliverance would still come even if she stayed silent, he revealed something profound: He trusted that God would remain faithful no matter what. With or without Esther’s participation, God would preserve His people. That is the kind of faith I want. Faith that believes God is still working even when circumstances look impossible. Faith that trusts God’s promises above fear. Faith that says: “No matter what comes, God will deliver me through it.” If faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain… imagine what God can do through a life fully surrendered to Him. Keep Seeking Jesus-MRA

When most of us think about Daniel, our minds immediately go to the lion’s den. We admire the courage of a man who stood firm when his life was on the line. We pray for that kind of faith. But before there were lions, there were vegetables. Daniel’s greatest test did not begin in a den. It began at a dinner table. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬ Long before God delivered Daniel from lions, Daniel had already settled who he belonged to. As a young captive in Babylon, everything around him was changing. His home was gone. His name was changed. His future looked uncertain. Yet there was one thing Babylon could not conquer: his heart. Daniel’s quiet decision to honor God with something as ordinary as a meal became the foundation for a lifetime of faithfulness. That reminds us that great faith is rarely built in dramatic moments. It is usually formed through countless ordinary acts of obedience. Jesus said, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV We often ask God for lion’s den faith, but perhaps He is giving us today’s “vegetable decisions.” The small choices to obey Him, honor Him, trust Him, and remain faithful when no one else notices are shaping us into the people He is calling us to be. May we purpose in our hearts, as Daniel did, that regardless of what is happening around us, our hearts will belong to the Lord.Have you had your serving of vegetables today? Not the kind on your dinner plate. The kind that quietly grows a faith that can stand when the lions come Keep Seeking Jesus-MRA