Day: July 20, 2020

Implore God thro Fast & Prayer

The first six chapters chronicle
the ministry of Zerubbabel in
rebuilding the temple; now c7-10
introduces a priest named Ezra
whom God uses to rebuild the
spiritual condition of the people.
The people have a house for
God but not a heart of God.
Ezra realises revival must begin
a national return to the statutes of
God as contained in the Mosaic law.

Lord, we’ll Seek thro Fast & Prayer:
By the Ahava Canal, I (Ezra) gave
orders for all of us to Fast & humble
ourselves before our God to Seek
from Him the Right Way for us.
For I was ashamed to ask the king
for soldiers… to protect us from
enemies along the way. After all,
we had told the king: Our God’s
hand of protection is on all who
worship Him… So we Fasted and
earnestly Prayed that our God
would take care of us, and He
heard our prayer (Ezra 8:21-23).

Lord, we note Ezra and the people
Humbled themselves by Fasting
and Praying. Fasting humbled
the people because going without food was a reminder of their complete dependence on God.
It also frees up time to think about God and to pray to Him earnestly.
And serious prayer puts us in touch
with God’s will for our lives and can change our hearts & minds. Lord,
Grant us grace to fast & pray. Amen

Lord, Help me fast & pray regularly.
Show me how often & how long
and give me the strength to get
through each fast successfully.
With every fast, help me to pray
about the issues of my situation
and direction in my life. For I need
to deny my flesh so that I can
hear from You clearly and exalt
You above everything else. Amen.

Lord, we know the need to fast to
focus attention & dependence on U.
It’s a statement that Your presence
and direction are more important
to us than the food we need; and
our priorities to hear Your voice.
We purpose to forsake the physical
need for food for a season in order
to heighten our spiritual senses.
Amplify Your voice this fasting time,
hear our cries and lead us in the
Right way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Seek God for Assistance (July 19)

Backgrounder on 2 Chron 17-20:
Jehoshaphat institutes a peace
treaty with the king of Israel. And
it causes Judah being entangled
in a war between Israel and Syria.
But his reaction to divine rebuke,
his appointment of judges to rule
for the Lord and his Godward
response to crisis point to the
day-by-day reality of his faith.

Lord, we Seek Your Assistance:
Jehoshaphat set himself to seek
the Lord and proclaimed a fast…
Are You not our God, who drove
out the inhabitants of this land
and gave it to the descendants
of Abraham Your Friend forever?
And here are the people of Ammon,
Moab & Mt Seir…O our God, won’t
You stop them? For we have no
power against this great multitude
that is coming against us nor do
we know what to do, but our eyes
are upon You (2Chron 20:3-12).
Do not be afraid nor dismayed…for
the battle is not yours but God’s…
You’ll not need to fight in this battle.
Position yourselves. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who
is with You… Believe in the Lord and
you shall be established (v15-20).

Lord sometimes I feel so over-
whelmed, all I can say is “Help”.
When I don’t know what to do,
but I am looking to You for help,
please help me to fully trust You.
instead of focusing on the situation.
When trouble comes, help me
to keep my eyes solely on You.
For the battle belongs to the Lord.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Father God, when at our wits end,
we come seeking You for assistance.
We call on You for we know Your almighty power & promises to us.
We look to You for we don’t know
what to do but our eyes are on You.
We depend and rest on You Lord,
trusting we will see Your salvation.
And we believe in You Lord and
trust we will be established. Amen.

Lord, give me the boldness to take
steps of faith. Help me be discerning
without over analysing. And also to
trust Your ability to lead more than
my ability to miss Your leading.
And Lord, make clear what You are
saying to me through Your people.
If I err in understanding, then may it
be on the side of belief rather than
skepticism. And show me the path
to success in Your purposes. Amen.