I will be the first to admit that I want to do what I want to do, when I want to do it! There. True Confession. I am a grown up, right? Shouldn’t grown ups be allowed to do what they want, when they want?
It’s true that we can do what we want, when we want to, but it is also true that doing our own thing might not always be the best thing. In Christ there is a better way. Scripture tells us there is a conflict of interests between our flesh and our spirit. Sometimes choosing to fast our flesh habit, is the very thing that begins to break the bondage of the habit and set us free. God uses fasts in powerful ways. While we usually think of fasting as just not eating something, it can also be abstaining from something by not doing it…fasting it.
Today’s Truth:Isa 58:6
“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 bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your houses 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…”
Fasting in this verse is the abstaining of food. The dictionary definition describes fasting as: eating sparingly or abstaining from all or some foods for the time of the fast. Untying the cords of the yoke in this passage refers to all forms of political, economic and social injustice that they were living in.
Is there a different kind of fast?
It is clear to see that God calls us to a physical fast from time to time, in order to have clarity and devotion in seeking Him. We also see in today’s verses the calling to change the things we do…the pointing of the finger, speaking wickedness, etc.
What if God called you to “fast” or abstain from something you do…like gossiping, being negative, impatience, suspicion of others motives, judgment, ugly little remarks, self-focus, worry…and yes, over-eating….you get the idea. Abstaining from our flesh habits, voluntarily, in areas that are hard, is like fasting from them with the same intent of seeking God about them.
Try this:
Today identify an area that has a hold on you, or a bad habit that you often feel bad about but never take action on. Let’s start with being negative. For today fast being negative. Every time you want to say something negative, stop yourself and either don’t speak or turn it around into something positive. Refuse to allow your habit of negativity to have it’s way. Starve it. Fast It.
While doing this, feed the Spirit life in you by finding a verse and holding it tightly to your heart, repeating it to yourself each time that you are fighting the urge to be negative.
Philippians 4:8 tells us that if there is anything GOOD we are to think on such things. Every time you are tempted to be negative and dwell on the bad, turn it around and dwell on the good. In some cases, the only good is God himself in your midst.
Any time you abstain from something that is comfortable or appealing in the flesh, it is a fast. I encourage you today to fast the flesh, starving it, putting it on a diet, killing it for lack of food or encouragement.
The conflict rages, the battle is on: In Christ we have the victory!
Today’s Prayer
Lord the spirit in me is willing, my flesh is weak, show me how to starve the area of my flesh that is causing me to disobey you. Turn me around as much as necessary to walk strongly and securely in my calling as YOURS.
Debbie- Wow…Iam amazed how the Holy Spirit works through modern technology! Right on sister and wow…I need that encouragement and the scriptures in the area of fsting today. I will hold the scriptures tightly to my heart and watch God do amazing things. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for sharing your heart with us. I know that public ministry can often times be mingled with alot of attack and hurtful words and I want to encourage you to keep up the fight cause it brings eternal Glory!!!!! Love ya Sister!
Especially in this time of economic uncertainty we all need to remember that God is sufficient for all our needs. I too will dwell on His goodness and not dwell on the evil in the world. God please help me to be a beacon of light to the unsaved world. Debbie keep up the good fight – we are truly blessed that you take the time to encourage us.