True Fasting

"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 him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness (or your righteous one) will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
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,
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.
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.
Isaiah 58:6-11

I remember reading this passage and feeling a bit convicted. So many times as I have fasted with seemingly good or 'pure' motives, I would also secretly think in the back of my mind "now I should also drop a few pounds." But, what we think is "secret" is not hidden to God.

The above verses show us the type of fasting He has called us to do...to take care of the needs of others, to give clothes to the poor and food to the hungry and to satisfy the needs of the oppressed. We are to think of the needs of others and also rid ourselves of malicious talk...ouch!

But, what also jumped out at me was how many times this passage talks about doing away with chains, yokes and oppression. Again, we want to be "Breaking Free" from our addiction to sin, which for me is an addiction to food. I can picture in my mind being chained to overeating, the yoke of obesity on my body, literally making me move this way or that as I struggle under the weight, and feeling oppressed because I can't seem to break the habits I've formed over my life.

I think this passage does call us to fast. I needed to fast to prove to myself that I could say no to food for a whole day. It wasn't easy, but I relied on God's strength. More than anything, I wanted to say to the Lord with my actions that He was first in my life. Whether or not I lost weight, I wanted to be freed from the oppression I was experiencing.

This passage also makes us a promise. If we do this kind of fasting with all the elements (including getting rid of pointing the finger and malicious talk), our healing will quickly appear! Also, the Lord will answer us when we call on Him. Moreover, God will guide us...and STRENGTHEN OUR FRAME!!!

I need the Lord to teach me the right type of fasting. I don't want to starve myself for the sake of being skinny. I want to rid myself of any yokes I've allowed to enslave me and live my life for the Lord's glory, helping others in need and purifying myself before God. I look forward to the Lord's answer, our healing, a strengthened 'frame.' Praise Jesus!

Dear Lord, we thank You for teaching us how to fast. Please help us satisfy the needs of the oppressed and feed the hungry. Teach us specifically things that we should do. Also, help us get rid of malicious talk and pointing fingers. Lord, forgive us where we have done this in the past or fasted for unrighteous reasons. Allow us to realize the importance of saying no to food, that we may honor and glorify You and be yoked to You and You alone. Please break the chains that tie us to our addictions and free us - bring our healing quickly! Please answer us and strengthen our frame. We love your promises, oh Lord. May we bring glory to You in everything we do. In Jesus' name, AMEN!