The Fasted Life!

Fasting is not the most well received word, even in the church. We love to praise God, we may even love to hear God’s Word – we love to serve Him – but there are not many of us who would run to sign up for a life of consecration that majors on fasting!

And yet we have heard the Words of Jesus that “this kind comes out except by prayer and fasting.” Some things are not going to move unless there is an equal and opposite power of resistance – the kind that comes when we engage in fasting. There are many kinds of fasts – but the one that comes to mind that everyone can participate in, is found in Isaiah the 58th chapter:

They ask me, ‘What’s the right thing to do?’
and love having me on their side.
But they also complain,
‘Why do we fast and you don’t look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don’t even notice?’

3-5″Well, here’s why:

“The bottom line on your ‘fast days’ is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won’t get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, God, would like?

6-9″This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’ Isaiah 58:2-9 (MSG)

Yes, we must fast – but fasting from food, and not fasting from our self-centered ways will produce little or no results. What moves the heart of God is our taking our life and pouring it out as rivers of love to those who He desires to set free. There are people all around us, who satan desires to keep us from – he shows us their flaws, their imperfections, even their devious ways – and yet the voice of the Apostle Paul says loud and clear:

10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:10-11 (KJV)

Selah,
Maria