“Fasting Plus Prayer Yields Results”

Scripture: "So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer." -Ezra 8:23, NIV

In this day and age, we are a part of what I like to think of as a "cause and effect" world. What I mean is that because you did something, there's an occurring effect that takes place. If you kiss your spouse/mate passionately, it will affect them in such a manner where they get tense or feeling really hot. If you work hard in school, then the effect is that you will yield good grades. If you work hard in the workplace, the effect is that you will yield a promotion or a pay increase somewhere down the road. What about spiritually? What goes on there? If you read and study God's Word, then the effect ought to be that you will live a life pleasing and acceptable to Him. What happens when you speak positive thoughts into the atmosphere? The end result ought to be positive actions and/or blessings within your life. Today's question is what happens when you fast and pray? Today's text emphasizes that through these two facets of the Christian walk, results are yielded.

Today's focal book is one of the twelve History books of the Old Testament, Ezra. According to scholars, this book is viewed as a book of hope and restoration. Ladies and gentlemen, life has dealt us all a blow at one time or another, but isn't God good because He provided you hope and in one point or another, restored you where your mind is not lost or where the money was gone, but you were still able to provide for you and your family! No matter how "bad" you think you have done, God wants you to understand that He is right there, ready to forgive you and welcome you back in the fold. Though the Israelites were captured and knew that they done wrong, God was still just to forgive them and restore them unto Himself! Within this particular chapter, Chapter 8, Ezra and the Israelites are now returning back home to Jerusalem after being held in Babylonian captivity for almost one hundred years. Within their return, they provided us as men and women of God hope that fasting plus prayer yields results.

Ezra emphasized that the fasting and praying was a group effort, not a solo effort when he wrote, "So we fasted and petitioned our God about this". One of the greatest things about fasting and praying is you have the opportunity to show God how dedicated and serious you are about achieving what you desire. Though these people were in Babylonian captivity, they fasted and prayed to God about their leaving and returning back to Jerusalem. Just like they did that, so can you! God wants to help you in every way possible! God wants to enlarge your territory and break the ties that bind you from achieving greatness! However, to reach those levels and greatness in Him, you have to fast and pray to Him about it! Jesus lets us know that "some things only come through fasting and praying". When we talk about fasting, there are various types; however, you can fast from watching TV, fast from drinking sodas, fast from eating chocolate, fast from smoking cigars, and other things. When you fast, fast on something that is the norm and that will hurt you now, but bless you greater later! Along with your fasting, pray to God and allow His voice to be the determining factor in your walk. When you do that, He has nothing but results in store for you!

This point is emphasized when Ezra wrote, "and He answered our prayer". In other words, the result here was that God granted them permission to go back to Jerusalem! When you fast and pray, results take place! When you fast and pray about your family, God will answer your prayer and bless them! When you fast and pray about your marriage, God will answer your prayer and turn it around! When you fast and pray about your finances, God will answer your prayer and give you what you need to survive and then some! When you fast and pray about your health, God will answer your prayer and bless your health! As a testimony, I recall sacrificing watching TV in the mornings back in 2002 for a month (including Saturdays) because I desired that God would bless me to make straight A's on my report card. Long story short, I fasted from TV and prayed and God yielded the results of straight A's at the end of the semester! As I like to tell people, I do not tell you about what I heard, but what I know! When it comes to fasting and praying, it yields results!

In closing, are you really hungry for a new level in God? Are you ready to step into the next level of your destiny? If you are, along with reading and studying God's Word, fast and pray. When you do that, just like He did for Ezra and the Israelites, He will answer your prayers!