Devotional for August 9

Scripture

Ezra 8:22-23

“For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, Our God protects all those who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him. So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.”

Observation

This was an act of great faith. Ezra proclaimed that his God took care of his people. When it was time to prove it Ezra did not ask the king to protect the caravan to Jerusalem. They fasted and prayed that God would protect them as they travelled. And God did hear their prayers and God took care of his people. This was a great witness to the king. It is one thing to say your God can do something; it is another thing entirely to prove it. Faith is not just saying it is living. There must be action to our faith. Ezra declared that God would protect him and then trusted that God would do it.

Application

We must declare to our community who God is and then trust God to show who He is. We say he is the healer, we must believe God for healing. We say he is the deliverer, we trust him for deliverance. We prove our God is real and true by showing God’s power.

Prayer

I want to show your glory to Henderson, KY. I don’t just want to declare your greatness, I want to them to experience your greatness. Show them your glory.