The Esther Fast 3-Day Devotional

Scriptures: Esther 4:16, Matthew 17:[21], James 4:6

Why The Esther Fast

Hey, you have made it to day one of the Esther fast! First off I just got to tell you congratulations! You’ve started and I believe you’re not reading this by accident, but on purpose. The story of Esther is so powerful because it shows the journey of a young girl who was overlooked, and uncertain of her place. Raised as an orphan by her uncle Mordecai, Esther was not living the life of most young women. Yet, amid uncertainty, God’s favor found her. She was chosen to be queen—not just because of her external beauty, but because of God’s favor upon her life. 

Through her story, we see that God’s timing is perfect, and His plans for us are often beyond what we can comprehend. Esther’s journey wasn’t just about becoming queen and stepping into her divine purpose. She was brought to the kingdom “for such a time as this”—a pivotal moment when her influence could bring about deliverance for her people. 

Esther’s courage was rooted in something greater than her own will—the courage that comes from knowing God’s power. It was the kind of courage that says, “If I perish, I perish.” It was a courageous heart willing to lay it all down for the sake of God’s calling. 

This is the essence of the Esther Fast: coming before God with humility and faith, acknowledging that things in our lives can only be broken through prayer and fasting. Jesus said, “This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.” Some battles, some bondages, and some breakthroughs require more than just our words—they require us to position ourselves in a place of prayer and sacrifice. 

As you enter into this fast, I encourage you to focus on letting go of anything that has been holding you back: doubt, fear, shame, confusion, or past hurts. Allow this time to be one where you break free from what’s been limiting you. Just like Esther, you may be stepping into a new season where you will be called to rise and stand in your God-given purpose. This fast is not just about abstaining from food, it’s about aligning your heart with God’s will for your life and allowing Him to show you the power of His deliverance. 

So, as you fast and pray over these next three days, remember that you are not alone. You are in good company—just as Esther stood with her people, so you are standing in faith with others who are seeking God’s breakthrough and favor. 

Expect to see walls come down, strongholds broken, and your true self—the woman of courage, faith, and purpose—awakened. 

Reflection:

What specific breakthroughs or changes are you believing God for during this fast? 

This is an opportunity to focus on your faith and expectations during a fasting time. It’s a moment to connect with God and seek clarity on what He wants to accomplish in you and through you. Fasting is often about breaking down spiritual barriers and aligning more closely with God’s purpose. 

Scriptures: Esther 2:17, Philippians 3:13-14, John 11:43-44

Unbinding From the Past

Have you ever been the stuck girl, overlooked girl, different girl, alone girl, or the lost girl? Esther probably could relate to that. She had to keep her heritage a secret to not cause any issues with the king. I’m sure she could have felt out of place at times. And maybe you have felt that as well. Going through life, holding on to hope and faith, but every corner of life feels like it’s closing in. You feel like you’re losing your grip. You struggle inwardly but outwardly you’re smiling and friendly. Maybe you feel as if God has forgotten about you. You’ve been in the same place, same season, same struggle far too long. Maybe you need to experience a breakthrough like Esther. 

Esther’s heritage, upbringing, and back story could’ve all kept her bound to what had been, but God was giving her a new title and a new life. Esther could’ve allowed the pain of being an orphan to hold her back from being a Queen, but she didn’t. Her story never bounded her to where she was from, but it was used to set her and others free. 

Maybe the struggle you are going through is tied to the previous chapters in your life. Maybe the cycles are aligned to what you’ve once experienced and now it’s all you know. Maybe you don’t have to run from being the different girl, overlooked girl, or lost girl, but embrace that was what was, but now God sets you apart. He fashioned you in his love with creativity, personality, contagious joy, and a bright light. Maybe you weren’t lost after all, just in a loop of the same situations from before, but now you’ve been unbound. 

It’s all part of the journey—and God doesn’t waste any part of it. The “different” or “overlooked” parts of you might be exactly what God will use to shine His light through you. 

Please know you’re not alone in feeling stuck or lost at times—just like Esther, you might be exactly where you need to be for God to do something incredible. 

Reflection:

What is God asking you to leave behind old patterns, and how is He preparing you for something new? 

Reflect on identifying areas in your life where you may be stuck, stagnant, or bound by negative patterns. Coming out of something means breaking free from your comfort zone, letting go of past wounds, or letting go of fear to step into something new.

Scriptures: Esther 4:14, Isaiah 43:19, Jeremiah 29:11

Establish Her

You may be the Christian girl who hasn’t felt very established. Maybe you feel the desire to always transition. Not sure where you want to plant yourself. It can be the same way with your ideas. You can never just decide what you’re going to do, instead, you simply do nothing. You don’t make a decision and before you know it, time goes by and you still feel further away from what you wanted to experience in your life. The fear of making the wrong choice or committing to one direction can leave us paralyzed, watching time slip by. And it can be frustrating, especially when it feels like everyone else is moving forward, while you’re stuck in the same place, still unsure. 

When we sit in fear we miss out on the power of being established. Better is to have an anchor in the water than to allow the waves to lead you somewhere else. The anchor keeps you planted and that is Jesus. Esther’s life got established which was something she probably needed more than anything. She needed to be firm in her purpose, in her call, and in her god-given authority. Esther’s journey is a perfect example of this. Her life was full of uncertainty and transition, yet at a pivotal moment—when the stakes were as high as they could be—she was firmly established in her faith and purpose. She knew who she was, and even though her circumstances were out of her control, she had clarity on what she needed to do. And that clarity came through fasting, prayer, and seeking God’s will. Esther didn’t have all the answers right away, but in the process of trusting God, she was established in her calling. 

You may be desiring to see a more established life yourself. Don’t worry – fasting and praying can do that. God desires to establish every one of us in his unfailing love. He then wants to establish us in his church and lastly in our purpose. 

God is establishing you right now, even in the waiting. You’re not stuck. You are being prepared. Just like Esther, you have been placed in this moment for a reason. And in His timing, He will allow us to experience what it feels like to be established in him. You will be firm and secure, just as He did for her. Keep seeking Him, keep trusting Him, and watch how He will make you unshakeable. 

Reflection:

What areas of your life have you felt blocked or limited, and how might God be using this season to refine your faith and establish you in a new direction? 

You stepped out of your comfort zone and dug deep. Now, it’s time to go forward in faith. Rise to the occasion like Esther.