Icing on the Cake!

““Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: ...”

Isaiah 58:6a

Chapter 58 of Isaiah is a description of Gods’ chosen fast for His people.

So often we think of fasting in a very self-centered way.

How does fasting benefit me?

However, verses six through nine of this chapter clearly direct us to consider others and service to them as part of Gods’ chosen fast.

As we do this we will often discover that the issues and concerns in our own lives seem to shrink in comparison and that we also find God acting on our behalf.

We fast for direction, we fast for healing, we fast for all kinds of self-interests.

But God commands us to fast for loosing the chains of injustice, untying the cords of a yoke and seeing the oppressed set free.

As we set our hearts to that when we fast Gods’ word declares in verses 8 and 9:

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

    and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”

Your light will break forth (revelation and understanding), your healing will quickly appear and so many other wonderful promises discovered in just these two verses.

Simply putting others first – that is part of Gods’ chosen fast and the

 blessings of the rewards are just icing on the cake!