(D-40) A Fasting that God has chosen...

Fasting helps focus on God when we pray. It helps partake the pain that comes from refraining from foods, but it also helps reduce the life noises so that we may focus on prayer and God.

At times, fasting has been used to fight against injustice. Many political leaders have used the fasting as a way to emphasize their points on certain issues. In this case, fasting is a threat tactic, attracting attention from people.

Isa. 58:6,7 describes the fasting that God has chosen and desires.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loosen 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?...

I see two implications in this passage:

First, our religious acts, such as fasting, should be in tune with the will of the creator. Clearly, the creator's will in this passage is in seeing the least taken care of.

Second, our religious acts, such as fasting, should be pragmatic enough to do His will, rather than passively refraining from eating food. When we partake in taking care of the poor, the oppressed, the homeless, the naked, and the family, it represents the fasting in the eyes of God.

Please pray that:

* we remain in tune with God's will all the time;

* we do what God desires for fasting; and

* we will help the underprivileged as a mission for the godly purpose.

What a pragmatic way to do fasting it is to help the underprivileged! Praise the Lord for His divine revelation in helping the underprivileged! - Jeffrey