God Listens to Earnest 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 thru 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 (Ezra 8:21-22)
So we Fasted & earnestly Prayed
that our God would take care of us
and He answered our prayer (v23).
We departed from the river
of Ahava… to go to Jerusalem.
And the hand of our God was
upon us from the hand of the
enemy and from the ambush
along the road (Ezra 8:31).
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, we know the need to fast to
focus attention & dependence on U.
It shows Your presence & direction
are more important than food; 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 at fasting time,
hear our cries and lead us in the
right way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord of mercy, help us to fast and
pray whenever the need arises.
Show us how often & how long
and give us the strength to get
through each fast successfully.
With every fast, help us to pray
about the issues of the situation
and the direction we have to take.
For we need to deny the flesh
to hear from You God clearly and
exalt You above all else. Amen.