Seek God Through Fasting

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

Ezra 8:21‭-‬23 ESV

We often forget that seeking after God costs us. Unfortunately, when I say something like that, you feel offended and balk at that notion. After all, salvation is free, why should the pursuit of God cost us anything?

Why should we have to pay anything to seek after God? It makes sense until you realize that everything else worth seeking has a cost. For example, a slice of cheese pizza equates to an hour running on the treadmill; or a viewing of the entire Avengers movies will cost me a subscription to Disney+ or money at the store to buy it.

Ezra, the priest, wanted to seek God so that he could obtain favor. He did it through fasting. In this case, he sacrificed food as an act of humility so that God would listen to his request and respond positively. Just a note, this doesn’t apply to all requests for God. This applies only to requests of God that validate and glorify who he is. I doubt he will answer your request for the winning lottery numbers no matter how much you fast.

When we fast, we are telling God that we are giving up our own rights and abilities and posturing ourselves in a position to seek after God. It is this posture of humility which demonstrates to God that we are seeking after him seriously.

Why is this important amidst the COVID-19 outbreak?

1. We need to depend on God’s ability to provide financially for us when our economies are failing and our jobs are not providing the security that they once did.
2. We need to depend on God’s ability to provide health for us, because social distancing and isolation only curbs the outbreak of the virus, it doesn’t cure it. But we believe that our God is a healer and does miracles even today.
3. When we humble ourselves through fasting, we realize that stocking up on supplies or provisions, are good ideas, but not nearly as great as our God, who does good for all who seek him.

Prayer: Father, some of us need to fast from food and seek you. Some of us need to fast from the news and seek you. Some of us need to fast entertainment and seek you. We know that in a time of anxiety, we need to seek you because you do more good for us than all things we can do for ourselves. Help us this season to seek after you.