I started a new season of 21-day fast, the second round this year. (June 15 – July 7)
July 7, 2008 the last day of my fasting, is the anniversary of our church, by then we will be 7 years old. A complete cycle. Thank God for His faithfulness in our church!
Why do I fast? There are few things that I really need to seek God and see breakthroughs.
I believe this fasting season is going to be life changing.
As I prepare my heart to fast and pray, I do not want just another fasting season to come and go, but one that truly avails much and one that pleases God. So I started to study in depth about fasting, and learned from the word. I flipped open the bible and the page opened at Isaiah 58! Wow, it’s powerful. So I wanna make sure that I record down the thoughts!
Read through Isaiah 58, I’ve learned so much by meditating on each lines… I’m sure there are a lot of different interpretations, but this is the lessons I received from the studying the word.
Why fasting is the key to breakthroughs?
I believe this is the season that God wants us to let go the oppressed and set the captives free as well.
At the same time, God can do the same for us!
1. to loose the bonds of wickedness. v. 6
Wickedness in Gk. means ‘naughtiness’ rebellion attitude or actions towards God. When we fast, we break the bondage of sins that easily entangled in our lives. There is a power to break the bondage that you usually finds it hard to break free.
2. to undo the heavy burdens v.6
Through fasting, your burdens and loads will be lifted up, ‘cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you.’
Be it a burden of finances, relationship, work or anything in life that is pressurizing. God can removes it form your shoulder as you fast, and enter into His rest.
3. to let the oppressed go free and that you break every yoke v.6
- To keep down by severe and unjust use of force or authority: a people who were oppressed by tyranny.
- To weigh heavily on: Poverty oppresses the spirit.
- Obsolete To overwhelm or crush
God promised us that when we fast, the yoke is broken, the enemy has no choice but to let go the grip on us! and we can now walk with God freely and do the things He has called us to do!
What is real fasting?
Fasting, is it just about abstaining from food and starve your stomach? It’s more than that….
1. is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, v.7
During fasting season, we should carry an attitude of kindness love and generosity. God changed our attitude. Removing the focus on SELF to focus on the needs of others. Love is benefiting others at the expense of ourselves.
When we fast, we understands what it really means to LOVE, and we connect with the very heartbeat of God. Love and Give.
2. And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out v.7
Accepting those who are ‘cast out’, the rejected ones, the ones that is not adorable, condemned by others. The ‘poor’, can refers to financial poverty, mental and emotional poverty. ‘Bring to your house’ The house here can also means that we accept someone into our ’space’, make room for them in our lives.
When we fast, we must carry the attitude of forgiving others and accepting others who are less fortunate than us. Go to their level and help them, ‘bless them’.
3. when you see the naked, that you cover him and not hide yourself from your own flesh v.7
Nakedness relates to shamefulness. When we fast, we also show compassion to those who are ‘naked’. Not just physically naked, and that we need to provide for their most basic needs, I am not saying that we ‘cover’ for others sins by compromising our stand, but we do not expose and ’sound the cymbals’ for the mistakes of others, remembering that we ourselves are imperfect too, are we not of the flesh too? God searches our hearts and our attitude especially during this season of fasting.
What will the result be when you fast?
1. then your light shall break forth like the morning v.8
your light will not be hidden. when light comes, the darkness flee. The bible says that when we fast, we will SHINE. In everything we do, there will be new empowerment, renewed passion. Morning symbolizes ‘new day’, new start!
2. Your healing shall spring forth speedily v.8
God promises healings when we fast, physically, mental, emotions, financial, spiritual…. God want us to be whole. And take note that it says, ’spring forth speedily’, it means that healing will come like a flood, like a thunder, it’s quick, it zapped you and makes you well!
3. and your righteousness shall go before you v.8
There are 2 kinds of righteousness,
i. imputed righteousness – righteousness we received by having the right standing in Christ
ii. actual righteousness – the righteousness that we have through sanctification, our real character. God’s plan of transforming us into the likeness of His son.
When we fast, we become more and more like christ, our righteosnesness is founded firmly in christ and we will go through sanctification.
In everything we do, we want to have righteous judgment and justice and turn ourselves away from any forms of unrighteousness
4. the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard v.8
God promises us ‘protection’ when we fast and pray. The glory, ‘the weight, the kabot’ of God will cover us everywhere we go. Defending us from the accusations of the enemy, the destructions that was intended by our foes.
5. then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, You shall cry, and He will say ‘Here I am” v.9
Now, finally, when you fast the way God wants you to fast, He promised that when you call on Him, when you pray, he surely WILL answer. Why not? He delights Himself in answering your prayers, He can’t wait to fulfill the desires of your heart. And when you cry out for help, He promised that He is THERE, God will saved the day!
And what else we need to do?
1. if you take away the yoke from your midst v.9
Set others free, those who are carrying the heavy yoke. You release them
2. the pointing of finger, v.9
No more blaming others for mistakes made, take up the responsibilities for your life.
3. and speaking of wickedness v.9
No more gossiping and speaking unclean words or idle words but guard your tongue
Then, here are the promises of the Most High God for you:
1. The LORD will GUIDE you continually, v11
He will leads you in all your paths in life and caused you to walk in HIs ways.
2. and SATISFY your soul in drought,
You will not be in lack as God will satisfies your soul, you will not go through dry season
3. and strengthen your bones,
You will be healthy and fit, and strong. Strong bones -you can last longer!
4. You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. v11
‘Water’ - a cleansing agent, moistures, refreshing, renewal, flowing…
Out of your ’spirit’, flows rivers of LIVING WATER! The goodness of God flowing out of your life and flood others who are experiencing dryness and drought.
5. Those from among you shall build the OLD WASTE places, you shall raise up the foundations of many generations v12
God will empower you to rebuild the old waste places, restoring the broken lives, a life that once contains the living water but has run dry. Life has is full with potentials yet was being neglected. You will build others and what you build will last many generations as the foundations are strong.
6. and you shall be called, Repairer of the breach and the Restorer of Streets to Dwell in v12
You brings forth revival, restoration, renewal to your generations!
Finally, v13 says
1. If you honor the Sabbath of the Lord… from doing your pleasure on My Holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight.
If you put God first and His kingdom first, not seeking your own pleasure but on His Holy day, honor Him and not going your own ways and doing your own things. Instead, you delight yourself in the LORD. Pleasing Him in all you do. Then..
v.14a God will cause you to ride on the HIGH HILLS of the earth
You will be exalted and promoted. God will raise you up.
High hills also means the place where God dwells, you will dwell in His presence all the days of your life.
v. 14b And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
God will give you your rightful inheritance in Christ as He has promised to your spiritual forefathers.
v.14 The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
If God say so, IT IS TRUE. IT IS DONE! No question about it!
I am truly blessed by this passage, and glad that God gave us a powerful key to see transformation in our life.
Let’s fast and pray according to His word and His will. Let it be a fasting that truly transforms you inside out!
