I begin my day entering into your presence Jesus my Lord.
"Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.
3 'Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.
4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
(Isa 58:1-11 ESV)
In this chapter on fasting, God sternly repremands the church because though people claim or think that their religious practices: church attendance, fasting, wearing religious symbols around their necks, and hanging Bible passages on their walls will win special them favor with God. However God sees through these acts to the heart of all people and knows the reason they do these things it not out of love for God and especially love for their neighbor, but is to gain favor and an advantage in a dog-eat-dog world and struggle to gain success, possessions, position and power. Isaiah asks, Is this why God instituted forms of religion? No! God created religious acts to be symbols of an attitude and heart posture of submission, surrender and trust that will form a change in the heart and behavior of his people. However because of the selfishness and self-seeking hearts of the church, the forms of religion they practice are not sources of divine pleasure to God, but ones of divine disgust.
God, when I read your inspired words through Isaiah, I understand the fast that You choose for me is a fast from my flesh, a fast from my desires, selfishness and self-centeredness. It's a fast that frees me from the tyranny of my self and turns my heart to the things on Your heart. A fast that turns my thoughts from thinking about my needs, to the needs of others.
Give me Your heart, Lord. Open my eyes to see the needs of those around me and fill my spirit with the power to do something about it. Give me a fast that re-prioritizes my time and passion for other people and reveal to me the ways that I can make a difference in their lives. Free me from the selfishness over sharing the resources you allow me to have like my home. Let me use my home not simply for my comfort behind my locked doors, but open its doors in invitation and for he comfort of others. Let me be part of the move of Your Spirit in my city and spheres. Let me be a source of influence to rebuild the "ancient ruins," to "raise up the foundations of many generations" and "be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets" (Isaia/h 58:12).
Fasting is not about ancient rituals, traditions or even faithfully executing spiritual disciplines. Fasting is about putting You first God. Putting my neighbors first, and accepting humbly that I am second. As Your Spirit overcomes my flesh you not only change me but You can change the world around me through my life. This is the fast You choose. So by the power of the grace of God at work within me, let this be the fast I choose. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, We are called to fast during this season of Lent, however I pray you will read Isaiah 58 and embrace a fast God chooses. I pray we will move from being a nation of churches with a prayer ministry, to a nation of churches that fasts and prays. I pray the Holy Spirit gives you eyes to see the needs of the world around you and the resolve to do something about it in your spheres of influence today,,in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and experiences on fasting in the comment box below.
Resolve to Help in 2024
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
