Fast- Isaiah 58:6-8
Isaiah 58:6-8- “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? (yourself) Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? (others) Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard (result).”
The beginning of the year is such a great time to fast and seek out the Lord. I know when I used to pastor a church, we would fast for the first 4 weeks of the year. The pastor of our church announced a few weeks ago the fast we are doing this year, and I believe it is for 3 weeks. As I was thinking about the fast coming up, these verses came to me from Isaiah 58:6-8. I wrote down these things for the first week and will continue this for the next weeks.
I believe the first week is seeking the Lord about yourself, getting yourself right to start the year, basically getting a good spiritual cleanse.
- To loose the bonds of wickedness– Is there something wicked in your life that has you strapped, something that is tying you down.
- To undo the heavy burdens– Life is so full of heavy burdens, and some of these burdens may feel so heavy to you, and Jesus wants to release, to undo, these from you.
- To let the oppressed go free– Oppressed is harsh and authoritarian treatment… what is harsh treatment in your life, is there something that has authority over you that shouldn’t have that authority?
- To break every yoke– God doesn’t want you to be unequally yoked, and maybe you have yoked yourself to something that is bringing you down, something that is slowing you down and you’re having to drag it along, or it is cramping your neck because of the yoke. Jesus wants to break every yoke!
I really believe that God wants us to seek Him the first week asking Him about these items, first need to work on ourselves before we can do anything. I am going to pray over these items, ask Him to loose, to undo, to let, and to break in Jesus’ name!