This message looks at our ongoing relationship with God through the experience of Ezra and the returning exiles. There is a call to seek God in a serious way, so that we might be a witness before a watching world. This is demonstrated in an active response, which leads to God hearing and answering prayer.

Ezra 8:21-23 English Standard Version (ESV)
Fasting and Prayer for Protection
21 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. 22 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.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.