Ezra 8

Haystack bible commentary

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==ezra 8:21-23:

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.
22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.

Vlad Savchuk

As Christians, we do not go on hunger strikes to manipulate God. Instead, when fasting, we allow God to refine our desires according to His will.
1. Fasting Helps in Humbling Us – The life of Ezra and the people of Israel (Ezra 8:21-23) and King Ahab (1 Kings 21:27-29) demonstrate a direct link between humility and fasting. They humbled themselves before the Lord with fasting and God answered their prayers.
Humility has little to do with starving yourself, but instead with surrendering to the acknowledgment of God as your King by abstaining from the pleasure of food for an allotted time and dedicating time to be in His presence.
2. Fasting Restores Our Hunger for God – If you feel like you have lost your hunger for God, choose to experience physical hunger for spiritual reasons. You’ll notice that God will reset your spiritual appetite for godly things.
3. Fasting Increases Our Holiness – Jesus died on the cross for our spirit to be sanctified, but our soul is undergoing sanctification until His return. Abstaining from food is the intentional act of setting ourselves apart in preparation for God to use us. Read 2 Timothy 2:20-21.
When you fast, you are aiding the Holy Spirit in your process of separation and holiness. God will expose areas of your life that are unholy, and He will draw you closer to Him.
-Vlad Savchuk; Charisma; 3 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting 1.24.23