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. Ezra 8:21

Asking for help is something that many people do not like to do. It often means that one is weaker and unable to accomplish something on his own and needs the strength and abilities of someone else. Admitting one needs help and then going about seeking help becomes one of the last things a person may do. A level of humility is required.

As Ezra was getting ready to lead the people back to Jerusalem, he proclaimed a fast to humble themselves before God and ask Him to protect them on the journey.

While the world looks at asking for help as a sign of weakness, believers must understand that everything they are is dependent upon asking for help. One is not saved until he seeks God’s help in being forgiven of his sins.

Even once saved, the power of pride often creeps into the hearts of believers causing them to not want to seek help from God or others. To help break that pride, believers can proclaim of time of fasting, going without something that they need so that they can humble themselves before God. Fasting is denying one’s prideful self and abilities to place God’s will in first place and in complete control. As one fasts, he can ask God for His will and favor.

During the fast, he is depending upon God for whatever is needed. It is no longer about self, but about God and His will and ways. The moment a believer takes self off of the throne in humility and places God on the throne, it allows God to do great and mighty things in his life.

No matter how strong or great you are, there are things that you cannot do without God’s help and strength. If God does not give you the abilities, you will fail.

Do not allow pride to rise up in you and cause you to walk without God’s direction. Humble yourself and deny yourself in a fast. Allow God to step in and meet every need you have in His own way. During the fast, allow God to be in complete control and watch Him meet needs in a supernatural way.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will humble yourself before God; that you will allow God to be in complete control of your life; that you will fast and deny yourself before God; and that you will see God do great things in your life and through you.

Girl on forest road

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. Ezra 8:21

Traveling a long distance can be stressful for some people. There is a lot that can occur on the trip. This becomes especially true when there are many different roads to turn on, or flight changes, or bus changes, depending on how one travels.

Fear of missing a transfer or a turn can rise up in a person. Along with those fears, one can fear a breakdown of the vehicle, or danger of other drivers. If one is traveling through an area that is also dangerous, it can raise fears or concerns.

People want to be safe and know that they can make the trip safely with no problems. They seek out the best routes to travel to be safe. They find the best methods to travel.

Ezra was traveling back to Jerusalem with a large number of people to settle there. On the road back to Jerusalem, there could be some problems, so he and the people fasted, humbling themselves, and put themselves into God’s hand for protection. They trusted God’s protection, rather than seek the king’s protection.

While people do go physically traveling a lot, there is one trip that every person is making–life. Traveling through life can reveal a lot of dangers, especially for the believer. The world does not want the believer to be successful in traveling through this life into eternity.

There are the normal dangers of injury, setbacks, breakdowns, and sickness, but with the believer there can also be dangers of persecution and ridicule. The believer must be ready for anything.

The best way to be ready for the trip through this life is trusting in God. Allowing God to provide the needed protection as needed and when needed.

You are not in a position that you can make the trip without any problems along the way. You cannot provide all the needed protection, only God can do that.

Instead of trusting people and the things of this world to get you through this journey of life, humble yourself and put your trust in God. Only God can protect you, your family and your things through this life into eternity.

Know that God will bring you safe to the other side, if you trust Him.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will trust God’s protection in your life; that you will travel the path God has for you in this life; and that you will see God’s hand of protection daily.