Setting The Record Straight (Part 3)
According to Webster Dictionary, setting the record straight means to provide the facts about something that people have a false understanding or idea about. I am going to briefly share with you ‘fasting that pleases God.’ This blog is just the tip of the enormous subject on fasting. At the same time, my desire is to stir your mind and heart toward something that pleases God.
I often think that we put the cart before the horse. By this we do many great things for God and we work ourselves into a state of exhaustion working for God. Yet, we never really stop to ask, “God, is this what you want or is this what I want to achieve?” There is designated time when we need to alter our regular schedule to allow God to speak to us. God is always speaking but are we listening?
Prophet Isaiah had to set the record straight. At that time, there were many religious people, but not many responsive people. They fasted, but the ordinances of justice were not relayed into action. Isaiah told the people about real fasting. Isa. 58:6-7 (NIV) “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose 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 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?”
A fast that pleases God places your heart before the regular schedule. As you plan a time to explore the power of prayer and fasting, write down the purpose of your fast. Next, determine which type of spiritual fasting will work for you. Finally, pick a day to begin your fast and stick to it. If you slip, do not give up, just keep on going. An example is learning how to ride a bike. There are times you fall off the bike, but you don’t stop and say, ‘I don’t want to ride anymore.’ You get back on and keep on riding until you reach your goal of riding the bike successfully. Fasting is the same way!
Fasting is a heart issue. The more you fast, the more you will begin to feel new found freedom. The heavy burdens that have dictated the direction of your life will began to change. For example, when a farmer has a yoke of oxen, he puts the untrained ox on the inside so the experienced older ox can train the younger. Your negative thoughts can easily become a yoke around your neck. A yoke can be anything that hinders you from being your best self. Do not hang around negative people; their conversation is like gangrene. (2 Tim. 2:17)
When the prophet spoke of letting the oppressed go free, he was talking about creating an environment of liberation, an atmosphere free of condemnation. Fasting can free you from the crushing weight of guilt and shame. As you disconnect from negative environments and negative people the crushing weight of guilt and feeling powerless will begin to dissipate. You will begin to think differently, walk differently, talk differently, and see things differently. You will even see God differently and you will gain a better image of yourself.
Rom. 8:1-2 (NIV) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
I often think that we put the cart before the horse. By this we do many great things for God and we work ourselves into a state of exhaustion working for God. Yet, we never really stop to ask, “God, is this what you want or is this what I want to achieve?” There is designated time when we need to alter our regular schedule to allow God to speak to us. God is always speaking but are we listening?
Prophet Isaiah had to set the record straight. At that time, there were many religious people, but not many responsive people. They fasted, but the ordinances of justice were not relayed into action. Isaiah told the people about real fasting. Isa. 58:6-7 (NIV) “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose 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 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?”
A fast that pleases God places your heart before the regular schedule. As you plan a time to explore the power of prayer and fasting, write down the purpose of your fast. Next, determine which type of spiritual fasting will work for you. Finally, pick a day to begin your fast and stick to it. If you slip, do not give up, just keep on going. An example is learning how to ride a bike. There are times you fall off the bike, but you don’t stop and say, ‘I don’t want to ride anymore.’ You get back on and keep on riding until you reach your goal of riding the bike successfully. Fasting is the same way!
Fasting is a heart issue. The more you fast, the more you will begin to feel new found freedom. The heavy burdens that have dictated the direction of your life will began to change. For example, when a farmer has a yoke of oxen, he puts the untrained ox on the inside so the experienced older ox can train the younger. Your negative thoughts can easily become a yoke around your neck. A yoke can be anything that hinders you from being your best self. Do not hang around negative people; their conversation is like gangrene. (2 Tim. 2:17)
When the prophet spoke of letting the oppressed go free, he was talking about creating an environment of liberation, an atmosphere free of condemnation. Fasting can free you from the crushing weight of guilt and shame. As you disconnect from negative environments and negative people the crushing weight of guilt and feeling powerless will begin to dissipate. You will begin to think differently, walk differently, talk differently, and see things differently. You will even see God differently and you will gain a better image of yourself.
Rom. 8:1-2 (NIV) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”