The Chosen Fast

We can understand prayer.  After all, prayer is simply speaking to the Lord and we certainly understand the need to talk to the Lord.  He is God.  He is our everything.  He is the Lover of our Souls and the Teacher of our character.  He is the Shoulder on which we cry and He is the Rock on which we stand.  If we are going to have a relationship with the Lord, we understand this.  But fasting?  What is the purpose of fasting?  If I am already praying to the Lord, then what is the purpose of fasting?

Isaiah 58:6-8

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?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter —
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
NIV

When God reveals the kind of fast He has chosen, He does not say to us which foods to avoid or if we should avoid all food together.  He does not tell us that a fast should last a day, three, days, a week, or forty days.  None of this is mentioned.  On the other hand, God does tell us the result of prayer and fasting when our spirit is right.  This teaches us that the method of fasting is not nearly as important as what actually happens during the fast. 

Jesus fasted without food or water for 40 days in the desert as He prepared to face Satan in a series of temptations.  Moses fasted without food or water also for 40 days in preparation of receiving the law of God on Mount Horeb.  However, Jesus' disciples did not fast while He was here on this Earth.  Some fasts were for short periods of time and others were for prolonged periods of time.  But God does not spend much time on the methodology or length of time.  No, He simply speaks of the power of fasting and praying.

To loose the chains of injustice...How many times have you seen people face things that are unfair.  The truth is that this happens to each and everyone of us.  Life is not fair.  We inherit the issues of our parents.  We develop our own.  And life simply happens sometimes leaving us with many issues.  But the kind of fast that God wants for us is to loose the chains of injustice.  God repairs and restores what life has done to us and to others.

 To break every yoke...The Bible teaches us to not be equally yoked with unbelievers.  But we still get mixed up with the wrong crowd.  We, our brothers, sisters, friends, and cousins all get tempted by the wrong things of this life and the wrong people.  But thanks be to God, He helps us through these times.  But if we break the yoke, then we are separating from the wrong influences.  Fasting breaks the yoke upon us and it breaks the yoke off of those we love.  They are set free to enjoy the life God gives to them without making so many stupid mistakes.  You know your teenage son who has 'horrible' friends.  You know the woman who always returns to abusive men.  The addict.  The insecure.  The arrogant.  Prayer and fasting releases power to break the strongest prisons ever erected by Satan.  The chains are broken!  The doors are open!  The prisoners are running free!

But the power of fasting is not contained within prayer.  Prayer and fasting prepares our heart and mind to action-to feed the hungry and shelter the wanderer.  Fasting and prayer releases power into us giving us the boldness, the discipline to serve the Lord as He provides opportunities.  The first part of this passage is about the power God is releasing.  This power provides opportunities for us to be the instrument, the voice, the love, the compassion that breaks every yoke. 

Let us pray and fast and then act on the opportunities God gives to us!