Fasting Prayer Belief

Ezra 8: ²¹ 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. ²² 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.” ²³ So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

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Upon reading this I could not think of an example because the message was too powerful. There were too many elements that caught my eye.

Ezra declared a fast to humble the group.

            What I hear is I need to fast every now and then to see just how much I need GOD.

Ezra asked GOD for a safe journey, not only for himself but everyone who traveled with him.

            What I hear is I need to ask GOD for HIS protection of all those HE sends to me.

Ezra was ashamed to ask the king to protect them because of their belief in GOD’s deliverance.

            What I hear is belief takes faith and the acceptance of trouble or protection from GOD.

Ezra did what he said by fasting and praying and GOD answered their prayer.

            What I hear is believe and move forward because GOD is listening.

This is an amazing piece of history because GOD delivered a weak broken band of people, who were carrying valuable items, from thieves and enemies who could care less about them.  I imagine they didn’t sleep very well during this three day journey. I imagine they felt frightened yet driven to complete the task at hand.

Depending on GOD every step of the way must have felt pretty scary BUT GOD was faithful and protected them, not because they were sinless, but because HE is GOD.

• Are you about to go through a trial?
• Do you feel you are holding fast to your beliefs?
• Have you taken time to humble yourself by fasting and praying?
• Will you take the time to ask GOD for HIS protection of you, the people around you and your stuff?

Devotion

Ezra 7: ⁸ Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. ⁹ He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

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Looking back on many rough times I can see where GOD has had HIS hand on me. From bullies at my school to thugs robbing me to having no mentor or guide in college all the way to today, I can see GOD’s hand on me.

• GOD has HIS hand on me through very difficult times.
• GOD has HIS hand on me through extreme rough times.
• GOD has HIS hand on me through times I had no idea how I was going to escape.

Devotion is that drive that says “I will never give up.” Ezra was devoted to GOD and GOD is devoted to those who HIS SON has saved. GOD says to those “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

My devotion is faulty. I doubt, fear and worry BUT GOD’s devotion to me is solid. It is un-waving. It is like a tree planted by the water, it shall not be moved. GOD has devotion to me and it is up to me to be devoted to HIM.

• Are you devoted to GOD?
• When times are good do you find yourself dropping GOD off and picking HIM back up when times are bad?
• Can you devote a small portion of your life to GOD and keep adding more and more to HIM daily?

Celebrate GOD’s Protection Longer

Ezra 6: ²² For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.

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Scribbling on a pad trying to figure out a problem, I didn’t notice everyone in the office was missing. Someone came to my desk and said, aren’t you going to come to the meeting? As I walked in family and friends were there and they were celebrating me for my accomplishments with the highest award. I praised GOD and was excited.

Months later when I didn’t get the top job running a large portion of a large company I pouted at GOD.  My celebration didn’t last very long.

·         When I use GOD to get my way, my celebrations don’t last very long.

·         When I use GOD to get my way, my celebrations only pertain to what I perceive as blessings.

·         When I use GOD to get my way, my celebrations only happen during the good times.

Fair weather celebrations are nice BUT GOD wants so much more from me. HE wants me to celebrate HIM during good and bad times. HE desires praise in the middle of the storm before I reach dry land. HE enjoys my celebration of HIM before things get better.

·         GOD wants my true praise.

·         GOD wants my whole praise.

·         GOD wants my praise even when I don’t see the deliverance yet.

GOD fights my battle and I need to praise HIM in the middle of the battle. After the battle is won then I need to remember that it was HE who brought me through the storm. And when I face another battle I need to trust that HE will deliver me through this one and the next and the next.

·         Do you remember celebrating GOD?

·         Are you in the middle of doubting HIM now?

·         Can you see HIS deliverance on its way?

·         Will you praise HIM for fighting your battle today? 

HIS Watchful Eye

Ezra 5: ³ At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?” ⁴ They also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” ⁵ But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

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Arrogant was the best term I could use for this guy. I mean he boasted and bullied. Unfortunately for me I got on his wrong side and I was on his radar.  I put my head down and focused on work, but to no avail, this guy was after me.

When he called me in his office, I braced myself for the worst. “Sit down!” He said in his gruff way. “You are being promoted, seems like somebody likes you.”

• There have been times where I have been scared.
• There have been times where I have been worried.
• There have been times where I have been filled with fear.

It seems like there have been many times where the pressure has been on or something was on the way to harm or hurt me. Several times in my life I “almost” stepped in front of the driver who didn’t see me, nor I them. How was I protected?

• GOD watches over me more than HE watches over sparrows.
• GOD watches over me and the HOLY SPIRIT pleads on my behalf in utterances I can’t understand.
• GOD watches over me when I’m foolish, scared, worried or full of fear.

Defenseless is what I am. Protected is what I believe in. Life seems scary at times, especially when everything isn’t going according to the script I wrote for myself. When I hit a puddle and the car spun around on the expressway, no one touched us. BUT GOD did. GOD watches over me daily and it’s up to me to praise HIM for who HE is!

• Are you scared?
• Are you worried?
• Do you have fear?
• Can you open your mouth today and just simply say “JESUS?”

Being the Opposition

Ezra 4: ³ But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”

⁴ Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. ⁵ They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

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After our meeting, we parted with our plan to build it ourselves. Our boss’s, boss’s boss was taking too long to give us the funding we needed so we found a way to get the work done without internal funding. We worked hard and, at the convention, our project was the big hit!

We won the battle but later found out we lost the war.  Internal opposition grew. It was harder to get things done and department after department met us with frowns. We were the opposition instead of the solution.

• Sometimes I think I am providing solutions when I am really opposing.
• Sometimes I think I am helping when I am really hurting.
• Sometimes I think I am part of the team when really I am part of a mob.

Challenging the norm is quite alright if done the right way. If the norm isn’t challenged, then innovation can’t happen. BUT I must consider when and where this is appropriate. The officials thought they were doing the right thing by opposing the rebuild of Jerusalem in the passage but in reality they were opposing what GOD had ordained.

• GOD wants me to consult HIM before I go into battle.
• GOD wants me to be humble before HIM to chart my course.
• GOD wants me to look for unity instead of opposition.

In the fight for power it is taught to collect as many people on my side as possible then I can be successful. BUT GOD says all I need is HIM on my side to be successful. This means I need to rely on tools that don’t seem like they would work. HE wants me to rely on humility, peace, love, kindness and compassion.

The world would look at that type of person as a sap, BUT GOD loves those who pursue HIS ways and look to HIM for protection.

• Are you the opposition?
• Do you talk about “that” person?
• Can you spit out your poison and speak about them with grace?
• Will you work on unity instead of ‘winning?”

Keep Going in Spite of Fear

Ezra 3 ³ Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.

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⁶ On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.

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¹⁰ When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel.

¹¹ With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:

“He is good;
    his love toward Israel endures forever.”

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

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Things looked quite pitiful for a while. Setback after setback it looked as if the project would never be done. We finally had to cut loose one part of the project that we struggled over because it just wasn’t coming to fruition. I remember being called into the president’s office and being asked, “Is this thing ever going to fly?” When I walked out of the office I could feel the tension from everyone around me. My boss said, “Keep going you are almost there.”

• Sometimes things around me seem grim.
• Sometimes situations I’m in seem lost.
• Sometimes my efforts seem fruitless and everyone around me is full of fear.

When things look grim it seems like more and more things go wrong. More things break and more those who oppose what I am doing seem to salivate at the calamity.  BUT GOD says not to react.

• GOD says keep going “For I am with you.”
• GOD says keep going “For MY burden is light.”
• GOD says keep going “For MY love is great for you and MY plan is to prosper you.”

We finished the project and everyone was rewarded heavily. It was a true success that made news. All of the nay-sayers and assassins had to back off. Only GOD brought me through the tough times and HE continues to this day.

• Are you facing a difficult time?
• Are you filled with fear?
• Can you follow GOD in spite of your fear?
• Will you continue to follow HIS leading and keep moving forward? 
• Can you praise GOD today for enabling you to take another step?

First Steps to the Return

Ezra 2: ⁶⁴ The whole company numbered 42,360, ⁶⁵ besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers. ⁶⁶ They had 736 horses, 245 mules,⁶⁷ 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

⁶⁸ When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site.

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After finishing my final paperwork I stood in my home office. No commute. No conference calls. No meetings. Silence. My career had shifted after the company decided to eliminate positions and I found myself wondering what to do. My previous pace was fast and pressured. I questioned the directions of the numerous people who gave me input.

They had great intentions in providing suggestions, but until I quieted down, I could not hear what I was supposed to be doing.

• After my turmoil, I ponder what happens next.
• After my trial, I question where I am supposed to go.
• After my difficulty, I wonder “am I good enough?”

When I ask myself “Am I good enough” I am still looking at myself for all the answers. I then turn into judge, jury and executioner, quickly convicting myself of all my sins and missteps. GOD does want me to admit I am a sinner, BUT HE also wants me to move on, knowing HE has forgiven me. HE sometimes wants me to start over, dropping my misinterpretations of HIM along the way.

• GOD wants me to look at HIM rather than looking at my accomplishments.
• GOD wants me to look at HIM rather than looking at my might.
• GOD wants me to look at HIM rather than looking at my resources.

Hundreds of thousands of GOD’s people had been taken into captivity and they returned with a pitiful few. Their resources were low yet their spirit was not broken. They gave and that was the first step to the return. On the journey back GOD said to me “be generous and you will be blessed.”

• Are you just getting out of a huge trial?
• Are you still pondering the aftermath of devastation?
• Can you mourn for a shorter period of time and start to focus on GOD’s peace?
• Will you drop your struggles and focus on rebuilding HIS temple within you, HIS way this time?
• Will you ask GOD for the spirit of generosity today?