January 11th, 2023
Day 10 – January 11, 2023
Ezra 8:23 - So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
Because the way back to Jerusalem was going to be dangerous, even filled with robbers, Ezra wanted protection for God's people, especially as they would be carrying lots of precious treasures. But he had already told the king that the hand of God was upon them. And so, he proclaimed a fast to humble the Israelites and to ask the Lord to guide them safely on their journey. God not only delivered them from every ambush, He blessed them. Their part: Fast AND Pray. God's part: Respond.
Usually around the halfway point of the fast, it becomes easier to return to normal daily activities. Your headaches may be gone, the cravings do not seem as intense or your desire to watch TV or binge on social media has subsided. And so you relax. You have happily found your new normal. You are fasting but maybe not praying as much because 'you've got this.' You have forgotten that your way is filled with robbers like distractions from your job or your family or your good works. These robber distractions can steal those precious treasures that God has been sharing with you these past nine days. Do not let your prayer time be ambushed by them!
Pastor Joshua Akinyemiju of the Christian Association of Nigeria said something last year that caught my attention: “We should remember that fasting without prayer is nothing but a hunger strike!” I encourage you to push through and spend even more time in prayer and feeding on God's Word during this time. Don’t just fast and continue busy-ness as usual.
Not sure where to start? Hope Chapel has a prayer team that gathers on Tuesday mornings who speak English and a prayer team that gathers on Friday evenings who speak Spanish. Each would be honored to pray with and for you or even help teach you how to pray – no judgment.
In the meantime, Bobby wrote:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Never Underestimate the Power of Prayer”
Charles Wesley was a spiritual leader and preacher in the 1700s. He was also a hymn writer who wrote over six thousand hymns in his lifetime including the famous:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
All Creatures Of Our God And King
Jesus, Lover of My Soul
And many more.
Charles came from a large family and was one of 19 children, although several of his siblings died as infants. His father was in jail twice and frequently defaulted on his debts, leaving the family with heavy financial burdens. Yet through all of this, Charles’ mother Susanna did not give up. She dedicated hours to prayer for her children and regularly spent time with each one talking about spiritual concepts.
Like Charles’ mother, you might be raising your children in the middle of hardship or you might have friends and family who are lost. But never underestimate the influence and impact that YOUR prayers can have.
I know that it’s only by the grace of God and the prayers of people who loved me, that I am personally living for God today!
You might never know the full extent of what your prayers have done, but your prayers and your attention can impact generations and generations to come!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Praying for you,
Pastor Brian Rabon
Ezra 8:23 - So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
Because the way back to Jerusalem was going to be dangerous, even filled with robbers, Ezra wanted protection for God's people, especially as they would be carrying lots of precious treasures. But he had already told the king that the hand of God was upon them. And so, he proclaimed a fast to humble the Israelites and to ask the Lord to guide them safely on their journey. God not only delivered them from every ambush, He blessed them. Their part: Fast AND Pray. God's part: Respond.
Usually around the halfway point of the fast, it becomes easier to return to normal daily activities. Your headaches may be gone, the cravings do not seem as intense or your desire to watch TV or binge on social media has subsided. And so you relax. You have happily found your new normal. You are fasting but maybe not praying as much because 'you've got this.' You have forgotten that your way is filled with robbers like distractions from your job or your family or your good works. These robber distractions can steal those precious treasures that God has been sharing with you these past nine days. Do not let your prayer time be ambushed by them!
Pastor Joshua Akinyemiju of the Christian Association of Nigeria said something last year that caught my attention: “We should remember that fasting without prayer is nothing but a hunger strike!” I encourage you to push through and spend even more time in prayer and feeding on God's Word during this time. Don’t just fast and continue busy-ness as usual.
Not sure where to start? Hope Chapel has a prayer team that gathers on Tuesday mornings who speak English and a prayer team that gathers on Friday evenings who speak Spanish. Each would be honored to pray with and for you or even help teach you how to pray – no judgment.
In the meantime, Bobby wrote:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Never Underestimate the Power of Prayer”
Charles Wesley was a spiritual leader and preacher in the 1700s. He was also a hymn writer who wrote over six thousand hymns in his lifetime including the famous:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
All Creatures Of Our God And King
Jesus, Lover of My Soul
And many more.
Charles came from a large family and was one of 19 children, although several of his siblings died as infants. His father was in jail twice and frequently defaulted on his debts, leaving the family with heavy financial burdens. Yet through all of this, Charles’ mother Susanna did not give up. She dedicated hours to prayer for her children and regularly spent time with each one talking about spiritual concepts.
Like Charles’ mother, you might be raising your children in the middle of hardship or you might have friends and family who are lost. But never underestimate the influence and impact that YOUR prayers can have.
I know that it’s only by the grace of God and the prayers of people who loved me, that I am personally living for God today!
You might never know the full extent of what your prayers have done, but your prayers and your attention can impact generations and generations to come!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Praying for you,
Pastor Brian Rabon
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