You have probably had to fast sometime and know how wonderful and powerful it means to fast accompanied by prayer. They are important weapons in spiritual warfare and help destroy the spiritual barriers with which the enemy intends to hamper our relationship with the eternal God.

This was experienced by the Jewish nation in the days of Ezra.

Ezra 8: 21-23 Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960), 21 And I published fasting there by the river Ahava, to mourn before our God, to ask for the right path for us, and for our children, and for all our goods 22 Because I was ashamed to ask the troop king and the horsemen to defend us from the enemy along the way; because we had spoken to the king, saying: The hand of our God is for good over all who seek him; but his power and his fury against all who abandon him. 23 Then we fasted and asked our God about this, and he was conducive to us.

While the exiled Jews were preparing to return to Jerusalem, Ezra called the entire nation to fast. They were encouraged for a triple purpose:

• First, ask God to guide you through the "right path." The emphasis of this fast was the direction.

• Second, ask God to protect children. The emphasis of this fast was help.

• Third, ask God to protect your possessions. The emphasis of this fast was the material.

In the Scriptures, fasting is repeatedly mentioned as a form of sacrificial prayer combatant, which produces results that would not be achieved in any other way. This is particularly evident with the expulsion of demons in the time of Christ (Mk 9: 14-29).

Fasting implies the renunciation of the necessary sustenance, while our attention is focused, during that period, on the search for God. A fast may extend up to 40 days, as in the case of Moses (Deut. 9: 18-21), or it may be as short as the portion of a day, as in the case of Israel (2 Samuel 1: 11-12 )