Hey friends, my heart is full by the response of those who will be joining me in fasting every Monday of September. I don't know about you but I'm thirsting for deeper wells of our Heavenly Father.
In preparing I've been doing just a bit of careful study of Isaiah chapter 58. Isaiah Chapter 58 is a rich chapter filled with exposing, correcting, blessing, and promises regarding fasting in a way that is pleasing to God and if we're going to fast, well, our primary aim should be to please Him.
At the core, fasting requires a right heart posture for it to be pleasing in the sight of God. When we fast in deep humility, with sincere repentance, with pure hearts toward God and people it brings glory to God and bountiful blessing in our lives and the lives of others.
We grasp this grand principle as we look at the people of Israel in the prophet Isaiah’s day. God shouted aloud and spared not, through the prophet Isaiah and to say that He was not pleased with their fasting seems at least to me, like an understatement.
On the surface, their fasting looked honorable. Doing all the right things like going to the Temple every day. They appeared to take delight in learning about God. 'Acting' like they were righteous. They appeared to be spiritually, 'all that' (if you know what I mean).
On the outside to be solemn by going through the motions of bowing their heads, dressing in burlap, and covering their heads with ashes. Oh, they knew all the right things to do to appear spiritual. I'd say they were showing off and really doing the most and not in a good God-honoring way.
Isaiah’s response to this from the heart of the Lord, “Is this what you call fasting? “Do you really think this will please the Lord?”
(Isaiah 58:5b)
On the surface, it may have looked like they were doing all the right things and fasting in a way that honored God but in God’s sight they were just dead works. Empty rituals, self-promoting, self righteous and self- seeking.
This was not a fast of pure and genuine worship that God accepted because their heart was far from him and then they wondered why God didn’t answer their prayers.
We have fasted before you” they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been so hard on ourselves and you don’t even notice it! (Isaiah 58:3)
Besides their empty rituals, wrong motives, fasting to please themselves, to be seen, and for their voices to be heard on high, on top of all that they were oppressing their workers. Had no compassion for the poor and helpless and were fighting and quarreling.
What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fast will get you nowhere with me. Isaiah 58:4
As you can tell by now, fasting is more than abstaining from food, reading scriptures, praying, and going through the motions. It’s so much more. Without a humble, honest, hungry, and repentant heart before God, it’s all in vain.
When we seek God with a lowly, desperate heart of abandon the fruit of the Spirit grows in our lives and it affects the way we treat and serve others.
Fasting is not just about us serving and being humble before God but is directly intertwined with us demonstrating humility before others and serving them.
It’s not just about us laying down our lives before God but us laying down our lives for others. In truth, we cannot do one without the other.
Incline your heart to hear the word of the Lord to Israel through the prophet Isaiah:
"This is the kind of fast I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives that need your help." Isaiah 58:6-7 NLT
The kind of fast God desires starts with us but extends to others. God was clearly, letting the Israelites know that they could not fast right if they were not treating people right and looking after the lives of those who were in need. This indeed, is true worship and pleasing to the Lord.
True fasting and prayer, true worship compels us to share with the hungry, care for the poor physically and spiritually. We put an end to gossip, backbiting, accusations, and being critical of others. This is a way of life for the believer not just in times of fasting.
An essential part of true fasting that pleases God is using our gifts, time, and resources for the good of mankind, and as a result, we reflect the heart of Jesus to the world and we experience blessing in our own lives.
Isaiah 58:8-11
Hear.......
Then your salvation will come like the day, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then you will call, Yes, I am here, He will quickly reply. Remove the yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness and the darkness around you will be bright as noon.
The Lord will guide you continually giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden like an ever -flowing spring. Amen.
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