FASTING & PRAYER pt2

Day 9 of 12-Day Devotions | 11 May 2021 | Paul Magno

Another example of how united fasting and prayer bring breakthrough and victory is found in the story of Ezra and the returning exiles in Ezra 8:21-23. The text says:

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.” So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer.

Ezra is leading exiles back to Jerusalem but the long journey is fraught with savage tribes and bandits. Among the returning exiles were women and children, as well as sacred vessels for the temple. But most importantly, the reputation of the graciousness of God was at stake.

Ezra and the exiles begin their journey with a fast — a spiritual exercise that physically weakens the body. It’s not really what you would recommend to a group of people who are about to embark on an arduous journey that would go on for days. But that’s the beauty of the fast — it’s designed to weaken the flesh and to confess dependency on God that’s heartfelt and sincere.

Fasting does not twist God’s arm so that He hastens the answer to our prayers. Fasting is, in reality, the twisting of our flesh — the weakening of our bodies and intentional humbling of our souls — which is a key requirement to Revival and release of God’s purposes in our land.