Fasting for Today

 ⁶ “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? ⁷ 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? ⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, ¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. ¹¹ The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. ¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:6-12 (NKJV)

I know this is a subject that is not common for most of us. It is not something that is talked about in most circles but this is what God has laid on me to share with you today. Do you ever feel like you have prayed all you can and you are not seeing the answers that you were expecting. I want to share that fasting might be the next step. It is not something to take lightly if you desire something from God fasting will open paths that you are not be able to open on your own. When we fast we give up something to spend time with God, traditionally its food. This is something that you will want pray about and be sure before you do. It requires that God call you to it He is the only one that can provide that strength. But in our rushed world where we are always connected and constantly under attack with information and all sorts of stuff that distracts us from what God has called us to. I would recommend in today’s world you start there. Cut off the cell phone, computer, IPod, or whatever piece of electronic media you are using for one hour just to start. It is in my own case one of the yokes that keeps me from being able to hear God and even prevents me from true service to Him. I have had to switch from looking at the Bible online back to my good old leather bound Bible. Once I turned on my computer I might not get done what I intended to do which was study and grow closer to God. Because the news might catch my interest I am a normal person if it pulls me I am sure it pulls on you. Take the time to dedicate yourself to God without all the distractions in our lives today. I pray that you consider fasting to get closer to God and see if He does not fulfill the promises He gave the prophet Isaiah in your own life. Have a blessed day.