TRUE FASTING CAN BE DONE DAILY

We are either in or coming to seasons where most believers fast. Generally, many fast at the beginning of the new year to usher the new year. Periodically people fast for breakthrough in some areas of their lives. The majority of these fasts are characterized by limiting food consumption. Fasting though is not limited to food, there are various things we can fast. Typically, the simplest definition of fasting is “sacrificing or denying yourself something in order to get a breakthrough.

Recently I came across Isaiah 58 on TRUE FASTING; I will outline what the scriptures says, then pose some questions to you …Is it not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

· To lose the chains of injustice-do we speak up in LOVE against the injustice of all humans, fellow believers in church and around the world. The Key here is speaking in CHRIST LIKE LOVE

· Untie the cords of the yoke, or set the oppressed free, or breaks every yoke? -do we use our gifts, talents and callings to minister to others and bring them a type of deliverance from what is holding them back. Do you use your gift, power, position or authority to control, suppress, manipulate and oppress further or does your gift bring a solution to someone’s problem?

·  Is it not to share your food with the hungry- Whether it is intellectual ideas, material or physical need; do we always give what we have to meet the spiritual, physical or material hunger

·  To provide the poor wanderer with shelter- are we the shelter to the poor in spirit, the wounded, the rejected. Have we embraced them and given them a safe place to heal and move on or have we the saints wounded them even more. Can they trust us and return to God again?

· When you see the naked, to clothe them-Do we expose, elaborate exaggerate another’s weakness, gossip about them or accept them as they are. Love them and allow the grace of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit enrich and restore them?

·   And not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? -As believers, what is our definition of flesh and blood? I know that family dynamics can be challenging but also believe strongly that ministry starts at home whether you live alone, come from a small or large family. To the believer does the definition of flesh and blood extend beyond our genealogy?

These scriptures opened my eyes to daily ministry opportunities that I had not considered. The above are all about LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, the greatest commandment and the foundation that Christ left for us. I was also left wandering; “mmmh could these be the reasons why some prayers are not answered nor matter how many days we have fasted; we have prayed amiss?  James 4:3

 If contemplating fasting in this season or in the future, consider this type of fasting. It can be done daily.