THE FAST GOD HAS CHOSEN – PART 1

Isaiah 58:6-12
“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? 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? 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. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

The prayers of God’s people are the resources that Christ uses in heaven to carry out His great work upon the earth. People are saved, healed and delivered, when prayers are more numerous, and effective. It is true that the greatest successes that come to God’s Kingdom are created and carried on by prayer. Mighty things happen in our lives, families, communities, nations and world when God’s Church comes into its inheritance of great faith and fervent prayer. When God’s house on earth is a house of prayer, then God’s house in heaven is busy and all potent in its plans and movements, then His earthly armies are clothed with the triumphs and spoils of victory and His enemies defeated on every hand.

As we begin our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, it is important to discuss some of the benefits of Prayer and Fasting. The passage in Isaiah 58 is one of the most power passages on the topic of prayer and fasting. It unveils 12 specific benefits of Prayer and fasting. They are:
1. Victory over the power of darkness (vs. 6) – To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
2. Compassion for the poor and needy (vs. 7) – 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? (Read more about the 12 specific benefits of Prayer and fasting on tomorrow’s devotion.)

We hope you were encouraged and strengthened by these words. Please spend some time mediating on them and praying the prayers below.

Sincerely,

Rev. Obadiah Swen
Pastor, Bethel City of Glory

Application and Prayer for Today
1. Thank God for victory over the power of darkness (Isa. 58:6, Lk. 10:19, 1 Jn. 4:4) – Pray for God to use us to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that we break every yoke?
2. Thank God for giving us compassion for the poor and needy (Isa. 58:7, Mt. 9:35-38) – Pray for God to move on our hearts to share our food with the hungry, and that we bring to our homes the poor who are cast out; when we see the naked, that we cover them, and do not live selfish lives.