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. 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.” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. Ezra 8:21-23

This reminds me of the movie Facing the Giants.
Do you recall when Coach Grant sat in his office and Mr. Bridges stepped in?
Mr. Bridges told the story of two farmers who prayed for rain but only one went out and prepared his fields.
The question was asked: Which farmer had the faith that God would answer?

Ezra stood up for God in Babylon and received the grace of God and permission from the king to go to Jerusalem 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.”
His company carried a great value of gold and silver to Jerusalem, making them a target for thieves.
But Ezra was too ashamed to ask the king for an armed escort after declaring that God’s hand was upon them.
So they fasted and prayed for God’s protection and traveled to Jerusalem without the king’s protection.
That’s prayer!
That’s humility!
That’s believing!
That’s faith!

You cannot declare “God can” and then live as if He can’t!
Stand up for God, live by faith, and see what He does for you!