May 12, 2024
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” be pure, and whether it be right.”
- Isaiah 58:6-10
Fasting entails refraining from food for a period. This achieves the aim of deadening the flesh and kindling the spirit man to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Within such a fast, the Word of God reveals that there is a release of power and grace from God for supernatural events in our lives. And while fasting can open us open in profound ways to God’s spirit, and even invoke God’s power in our lives, there is more to fasting.
Fasting is more than abstaining from food and drink; it's a spiritual discipline also designed to deepen our reliance on God while opening our hearts to the needs of others. Isaiah 58:6-10, our anchor text not only calls for abstention, but actively commands us to engage in acts of kindness and generosity, especially towards those who are less fortunate.
This could take several forms from volunteering at local food banks, donating to charities, giving your time and experience to mentor and educate others (especially younger people) etc. There are many other avenues, both big and small, to keep this Word. With a willingness to do it, you will find it easier to spot or create opportunities to be a light for those who need it.
Fasting is more than abstaining from food and drink; it's a spiritual discipline also designed to deepen our reliance on God while opening our hearts to the needs of others.
Matthew 25:35-40 reinforces this call to action, where Jesus equates serving others with serving Him directly: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me…”
Don’t forget to be charitable at home too. It is easy to take those close to us for granted. But during a fast, you can create a strong environment for divine and angelic visitations just by maintaining peace and good will with others—especially those closest to you.
By integrating these acts of kindness and service into our fasting practice, we not only fulfill God's commandments, but also cultivate a spirit of empathy and support with those in need. Such actions are a testament to living out our faith in a tangible way, particularly in the context of a society that often values material success above all.
For you to get the most out of your fast, strive for personal spiritual growth, but also actively participate in improving the lives of others. It is in these acts of service that we fill an often missing but powerful piece of the true essence of a fast as desired by God.
Song of Worship
Not by might, not by power
But by Your spirit God, send your Spirit God
Not by Might. Song by Tasha Cobbs
Prayer - Lord, as we embark on a fast, a period of seeking Your face and drawing closer to you, help us to remember to be kind to others and to be a source of light to those in darkness. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Bible in 1 year: 2 Kings 17-18