Introduction: Does your family need a “BREAKTHROUGH”? Try fasting….of course with the right motives and for the right purpose. When Ezra and the people of God were rejoicing because of the GOODNESS of the Lord, they were also needing His BLESSINGS for what was ahead. Truthfully, we can all relate! Check out and see if you are led to “FAST for the FAMILY.”

1. Fasting for Focusing on your Family! (Ezra 8:21)

“21Then 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.”

Here is the burden – our families, “the little ones.” Every family has spiritual needs. Some of these needs will only be met through prayer and fasting. Such was the case throughout the Bible (see Mark 9:14-29). Is your family worth it? Is God’s glory worth it? While no one may ever know your secret alone with Jesus, He knows! That’s all that really matters!!

2. Fasting for Fighting our Foes! (Ezra 8:22,31)

“2For 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. 23So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us….. 31Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”

In this case, fasting released God’s restraining power over Israel’s enemy. It appears we can conclude that our Lord heard His people’s cry and honored their sacrificial faith directed to Him. Is Jesus the same today? Yes! (Heb 13:8)