Ezra 8:21

Ezra 8:21 says, 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.  Ezra proclaimed a fast at the river Ahava so that the people of Israel who were returning to Jerusalem to repair the Temple might afflict or humble themselves before God.  If we are looking to God for help in any situation, we need to first humble ourselves before Him.  I personally have never fasted for religious purposes but should be willing to if the Holy Spirit leads me to do so, but even more than that, I need to always be willing ot humble myself before God.  I have known some people who took pride in fasting, and I believe that when they do, they defeat the whole purpose of fasting.  It should never be done to bring attention to ourselves in my opinion.  Ezra said this fast was proclaimed to seek God's guidance for all of the people, including their little ones and all their substance.  We need to seek God’s guidance in all that we do and for the use of all that He blesses us with, especially for our children.  

Verse twenty-two adds, 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.  Ezra said he was ashamed to require protection from the king when he had proclaimed the power of God over everything.  He said God’s hand was on those who sought Him to bring good to them and on those who didn’t seek His will to bring evil to them.  We as followers of Christ too often look to the government to help us instead of looking to God I believe.  Maybe we like Ezra should be ashamed when or if we do.  We need to put our faith in God to provide for our needs no matter what is happening in the world.  

Verse twenty-three continues, So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.  The people fasted and entreated God as they sought His protection as Ezra had instructed them to do, and so should we today.