Fasting and praying for protection

When Ezra and the Israelites returned to Jerusalem from captivity they camped at the river Ahava before they went back into Jerusalem and fasted an prayed for God's protection upon their return to the city.

We read about this in Ezra 8. I share with you today Ezra 8:21 -23 (NKJV) "²¹ Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. ²² For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” ²³ So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer."