Guest post by John Money

I am calling out to you today to join me in focusing on fasting and praying for our children and youth today!  Most of the kids/teens start back to school tomorrow and will be back into their school routines.  For some kids this is no big deal.  For others, school is such a challenge and even a great burden/source of stress.

We can lift them up during our fast and they will be covered by the prayers we are stacking up for them today.

Ezra was a man who was leading an expedition with women and children back to Jerusalem and knew that there would be many dangers that the children would face.  So Ezra did the most powerful thing he could do…..He proclaimed a Fast.

Ezra 8:21 – I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

Ezra knew the power of having a group of people fasting, humbling themselves before the Lord and specifically asking for safety for their children.  He was confident that the Lord would honor their humble act of prayer and fasting.  And the Lord did!

Ezra 8:23  -So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Ezra and the people fasted, prayed, pleaded with the Lord for the safety of their children on their long journey…..and the Lord answered their prayer.

Let’s follow Ezra’s model.  Here is my prayer this morning:

Dear Lord, we are fasting today and praying in order to be as connected to you as possible.  We are also fasting and praying for our children and asking you to protect them in their young lives.  Lord, we pray that as they go back to school tomorrow, that you will be working powerfully in their lives.  Please fill them with your Holy Spirit and guide them in your truth.  Help them hunger and thirst for you and your Word.  Help them stand firm against the devil’s wicked schemes.  We know that the enemy seeks to “steal, kill, and destroy” but you have come that they will have “life to the full” (John 10:10).

Lord we pray for our children to know you, love you, and serve you with all their hearts.  Help them love you more than the darkness of this world.  Help them walk closely with you today.  I pray that you would put a shield of life around our children and protect them from all harm.  Guide them into the great purpose and plans you have for their lives – Amen.