Monday lunch/afternoon — Read Isaiah 58:6

⁶ “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed¹ go free, and to break every yoke?”

Two years ago almost to the date, we fasted like this at Cornerstone.  I discovered how difficult a food fast is for me.  Some of you might be in cold sweats right now because you are resisting tobacco, coffee, or Facebook.  For me, food is an unbearable thing to go without.  One night during the fast two years ago my kids were eating supper and it was less than desirable canned ravioli, but ravioli never looked so good.  At one point I gritted my teeth and said to the kids, “please pray for me. I am seriously trying to fast and I cannot do this.” It made me realize how much I take food for granted, the nourishment and often the satisfaction it provides, and how dependent we are on food. But it also reminded me of how quick I am to not recognize the Lord in every aspect of my life and how dependent we are on Him. Tristan and Ravyn prayed for me and then we entered into a great discussion about Jesus. We marveled at his ability to go 40 days and 40 nights without food and then to resist the Enemy’s temptations (see Matthew 4:1-4).

In our verse from Isaiah 58 this afternoon, the Lord reveals to us the fast that he chooses—that fast is described as one that “breaks the shackles of the enemy and frees us from our sin and wickedness.”  This work is done by Jesus who faced every temptation we face, who anguished just like we anguish, yet who remained sinless to reverse the curse that we have brought upon ourselves in our hypocrisy. As we fast this afternoon, lets pray…

1. that we would see “His fast”—that the Lord would indeed free us from our wickedness…free us from being harassed
2. for confidence that the Lord has ultimately done this by His work on the cross and by being raised to new life and yet also confidence as we draw near to our Captain in an ongoing battle with our Enemy
3. that we would see ourselves as helpless without the freedom Christ offers and helpless without the sustenance he brings (physically and spiritually)