Becoming More Like Esther

A few months ago I stepped out on faith and decided to resign from my place of employment.  I was/am very certain that during a time of fasting and praying I was being obedient in that life choice.  Since then, I have lost some material possessions but I am not homeless, I have a vehicle to drive and my family is ultimately happy and healthy.  Due to this decision about 4 months ago, I have learned to live on the bare minimal which I did not realize I could do prior to July 2010.  I now turn off any lights in the house not in use.  I read more, watch television less.  I enjoy spending time with my family and this time last year I would have been obsessed with work/career and not sure what might have been going on in the lives of the ones I claim to most dearly love.  I have also learned to rely on my Higher Power, who I call God, to the utmost.  I feel it was His voice that led me to resign those months ago and yes I had a plan of action to provide for the basic needs of my household but that plan of action ended after 3 months of unemployment and now I am wondering OK what's next.  I guess that is what has led me to write this blog.  I am a huge social network fan and have no qualms about putting my business out there.  But I realized my closest friends on FB and Twitter have no idea that I am basically unemployed.  We go through the normal routine of talking ish and being nosey about what is going on in every body's lives but of course we only know what folks are willing to put out there. And you know that have to make themselves look good or at least they think they are making themselves look good...so I found myself in this last month of having to slow down, sit, think and learn that I really don't know anyone on those folks on social networks, I don't really care what they had for breakfast and I don't want to know if they are in a relationship or not.  Yet I have spent more hours than I care to admit online trolling through profiles and statuses and absolutely nothing in my life is the better for it!  So during a corporate fast at my church, I decided to fast the social networks.  Sounds easy right? Yep actually it was.  I thought when I signed out at 12 midnignt the day of the first fast I was going to go crazy but that only lasted for hmmmm moments.  As I found myself beginning to enjoy again things I once enjoyed like being outside (without the bugs) going to the library, reading and exercising.  I realized there is so much more to life than face book.  During the fast, one of my commitments was to complete the Esther Bible Study by Beth Moore.  It was exciting and I could not wait until the next day so that I could complete the next assignment.  Once that was complete I had an opportunity to watch A Night With The King, a movie based on the events of Esther and then began reading Chuck Swindoll's Esther A Woman of Strength and Dignity.  And although all three accounts had very different perspectives my journey now is to become more like Esther.  There are certain characteristics about this woman that I find intriguing and appealing and continue to be drawn to.  So as I am taking a break from the social networks and the endless trolling of other people's lives that have absolutely no significance on my own I am hoping to learn more about myself and the women I would like to become and the woman God created me to be and where He is leading me to next...I hope you join me on my journey :-)