Honoring God's Name
So we fasted and sought [help from] our God concerning this [matter], and He heard our plea.
Ezra 8:23
The book of Ezra narates the second return of the Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem after sixty years from first return. This second returns main purpose was to rebuild the spiritual condition of the people already living in Jerusalem.
During this second return Ezra had a great favor from king of Persia and hence would have asked for travel needs and escorts for protection, but instead he chose to fast and pray and seek God's protection and provision. He was ashamed to ask the king, because Ezra has testified to the king that their God is great and will protect them. He didn't want to put God's name to shame.
God heard their plea and granted them their wish.
This is a great lesson we can learn for our lives.
Many times we as believers in Christ seek the world to get what we want forgetting that we have a God in heaven our Father, who longs to grant our desire.
We tell the world that the God we worship is powerful but our actions prove otherwise. We depend on the world, and people of this world who don't know the true God. We behave like the world and put God's name to shame.
But rather let's go to God in fasting and seek His help and He will surely hear our plea.
We not only receive great blessing from Him by going to Him in fasting and praying, but also honor His name among the world around us.
Honor God's name by fasting and prayer.
During this second return Ezra had a great favor from king of Persia and hence would have asked for travel needs and escorts for protection, but instead he chose to fast and pray and seek God's protection and provision. He was ashamed to ask the king, because Ezra has testified to the king that their God is great and will protect them. He didn't want to put God's name to shame.
God heard their plea and granted them their wish.
This is a great lesson we can learn for our lives.
Many times we as believers in Christ seek the world to get what we want forgetting that we have a God in heaven our Father, who longs to grant our desire.
We tell the world that the God we worship is powerful but our actions prove otherwise. We depend on the world, and people of this world who don't know the true God. We behave like the world and put God's name to shame.
But rather let's go to God in fasting and seek His help and He will surely hear our plea.
We not only receive great blessing from Him by going to Him in fasting and praying, but also honor His name among the world around us.
Honor God's name by fasting and prayer.