Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from radical.net.

Asver chapter 8 verse 23, so we fasted and implored our God for this and he listened to our entreaty.

There's so much happening here in Ezra

Chapter 8 in this story of rebuilding the temple. I love this picture of Ezra

proclaiming a bast in chapter 8, calling people, verse 21 says to humble ourselves before our God, to seek

from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and our goods. Want to picture here of Ezra and God's people saying more than we need food.

We're going to set aside food to come before you, God, and implore you for safe travel,

for your protection and your provision. And this is just one of many pictures of fasting we see all throughout the

Old Testament and the New Testament as God's people regularly set aside food and pray and seek God in a special way saying

more than we want or need what our bodies long for in this world.

We want and need you and your help.

And I just want to ask you, is fasting a regular part of your life,

of your relationship with God?

And if not, why not? This is clearly a part of what it means to know and worship and seek God.

Again, all throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. Look in Matthew chapter six.

fasting is just as basic according to Jesus as praying is and as giving is.

So what does regular fasting look like in your life?

And I want to encourage you if you don't have some kind of intentional rhythm of fasting,

periodically setting aside food for a time, could be just for a meal or maybe

for a day or more than that, to seek God, to substitute that time when you would eat with extended time in prayer and

in God's word, just saying more than I want food, Oh God, I want you.

And especially when we face certain things in our lives,

...