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."
Prayer Changes Things
Each time my family leaves the Ranch to travel, you will see our brake lights at the end of the drive. Just like my dad did while I was growing up, we stop to pray for safety and wisdom in travel. This is not just a meaningless habit my family has formed; this prayer does make a difference. Here in this passage, Ezra and God's people were setting out on a risky journey through unknown territory. They were stopped at the river, leaving the known and familiar behind and crossing over into a land with many dangers.
As we can see in verse 21, Ezra took this time of prayer very seriously-they fasted, depriving themselves, so that they could seek of the Lord a "right way." Amazingly, they had been offered an escort of soldiers by Artaxerxes the king, but Ezra had refused this escort. Why would he do this? Verse 22 explains, "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'."
First of all, Ezra was more concerned with God's glory than with his own safety. It would not have been sinful to accept this escort. We know that because many times the Lord uses other humans to provide for the needs of His people; and further, we see Ezra's contemporary, Nehemiah, using an escort. But Ezra did not want to be misunderstood by this pagan king, seemingly dependent on the help of man rather than the help of God. You see, this pagan king believed in many gods and Jehovah God was to him just another god. Ezra wanted him to see the supremacy and power of Jehovah God as the only true God-he wanted him to see that God did not need any "help" in protecting His people.
Secondly, by refusing this escort, Ezra was taking his hands off and letting God choose the means by which He would protect and provide for His people. If God could use pagan kings to accomplish His will, certainly He could accomplish His will in His own way. So here they were, entreating God for help before setting out "on their own." We find in verse 23 a wonderful thing: "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us." They prayed and God responded! The pious statement that "the only thing that prayer changes is you" is absolutely wrong and unbiblical. Prayer does change things!
While ministering at a prayer station in Manhattan, a man came up to me, looked at what I was wearing (which said "Prayer changes things") and quickly retorted, "Sure it changes things-it changes you!" Now that sounds pious and nice, but it denies the power of prayer. This man, come to find out, was a man who didn't even believe in the God of heaven but believed that any kind of religion was perfectly fine as long as it helped your own state of mind.
Our sovereign God was the One who designed prayer to be the catalyst for His response.Things are different because we pray! If Ezra believed that prayer only changes the person praying, it would have been pure foolishness to set out across that river. Don't be afraid to lean wholly on your God for provision and protection; and pray to Him believing that your prayer does make a difference! You will see the God of heaven answer in a way that brings all the glory to Him.
Prayer Requests:
1. Elementary Retreat today and tomorrow (Sept. 5-6)
2. West Branch On the Move Regional Youth Conference tomorrow (Sept. 6)
3. Recruiting of Summer Staff for 2009.
For more information about the Bill Rice Ranch visit our website: billriceranch.org
You can sign up for this Biblical devotionals by going to the link immediately above this sentence. Evangelist Wil Rice is the president of the Bill Rice Ranch and I highly commend to you this man and this ministry which was started by his grandparents.
Prayer Changes Things
Each time my family leaves the Ranch to travel, you will see our brake lights at the end of the drive. Just like my dad did while I was growing up, we stop to pray for safety and wisdom in travel. This is not just a meaningless habit my family has formed; this prayer does make a difference. Here in this passage, Ezra and God's people were setting out on a risky journey through unknown territory. They were stopped at the river, leaving the known and familiar behind and crossing over into a land with many dangers.
As we can see in verse 21, Ezra took this time of prayer very seriously-they fasted, depriving themselves, so that they could seek of the Lord a "right way." Amazingly, they had been offered an escort of soldiers by Artaxerxes the king, but Ezra had refused this escort. Why would he do this? Verse 22 explains, "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'."
First of all, Ezra was more concerned with God's glory than with his own safety. It would not have been sinful to accept this escort. We know that because many times the Lord uses other humans to provide for the needs of His people; and further, we see Ezra's contemporary, Nehemiah, using an escort. But Ezra did not want to be misunderstood by this pagan king, seemingly dependent on the help of man rather than the help of God. You see, this pagan king believed in many gods and Jehovah God was to him just another god. Ezra wanted him to see the supremacy and power of Jehovah God as the only true God-he wanted him to see that God did not need any "help" in protecting His people.
Secondly, by refusing this escort, Ezra was taking his hands off and letting God choose the means by which He would protect and provide for His people. If God could use pagan kings to accomplish His will, certainly He could accomplish His will in His own way. So here they were, entreating God for help before setting out "on their own." We find in verse 23 a wonderful thing: "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us." They prayed and God responded! The pious statement that "the only thing that prayer changes is you" is absolutely wrong and unbiblical. Prayer does change things!
While ministering at a prayer station in Manhattan, a man came up to me, looked at what I was wearing (which said "Prayer changes things") and quickly retorted, "Sure it changes things-it changes you!" Now that sounds pious and nice, but it denies the power of prayer. This man, come to find out, was a man who didn't even believe in the God of heaven but believed that any kind of religion was perfectly fine as long as it helped your own state of mind.
Our sovereign God was the One who designed prayer to be the catalyst for His response.Things are different because we pray! If Ezra believed that prayer only changes the person praying, it would have been pure foolishness to set out across that river. Don't be afraid to lean wholly on your God for provision and protection; and pray to Him believing that your prayer does make a difference! You will see the God of heaven answer in a way that brings all the glory to Him.
Prayer Requests:
1. Elementary Retreat today and tomorrow (Sept. 5-6)
2. West Branch On the Move Regional Youth Conference tomorrow (Sept. 6)
3. Recruiting of Summer Staff for 2009.
For more information about the Bill Rice Ranch visit our website: billriceranch.org
You can sign up for this Biblical devotionals by going to the link immediately above this sentence. Evangelist Wil Rice is the president of the Bill Rice Ranch and I highly commend to you this man and this ministry which was started by his grandparents.
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