The journey of faith is the road less traveled. It’s so much easier to sink into complacency and to become reliant on the things of this world. A comfortable, predictable life, is what most people choose. But God is looking for those individuals who will trust Him, and live the life of faith, and though a times all might not be predictable, one thing always is: God is faithful!
On this journey, we need Him. We need His guidance, favor and divine protection, all things that He has promised those who follow in His ways.
In the book of Ezra, as the people of God were preparing to embark on a dangerous journey of faith, they began with fasting and prayer.
Ezra 8:21
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.”
In their journey, they depended on the hand of God. There dependence upon Him was clearly displayed by a decision to fast and pray. Specifically, they needed the Lord’s divine protection for the road to Jerusalem was treacherous. There were those who might seek to do the children of Israel harm. But in the end, they reached safely, protected, and with the desire of their hearts fulfilled.
We too have an enemy. The enemy of our soul(39) would seek to hinder us from accomplishing the full will of God. He might attempt to stop us along the way, but the scriptures give us insight. We know that this enemy is defeated(40), and that we are exalted with Christ above all his works(41).
Fasting doesn’t create victory, it rather serves as a means of reminding us of the victory we already have, and helps us to enforce it. Fasting, as illustrated in the book of Ezra helps to put things in order spiritually, so that our journey of faith is successful.
(39) Psalm 143:3
(40) Colossians 2:15
(41) Ephesians 2:6