Isaiah 58 – True Fasting

Isaiah 58 – True Fasting

In the Scriptures fasting is coupled with sorrow and mourning, often in response to sin. Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel threw themselves into periods of mourning, weeping, fasting and praying when they heard news of the sins of their people. In Isaiah 58 we see clearly true repentance is more than just acknowledgment of sin and a request for forgiveness. We must walk away from our sins – break their habitual practice. True fasting demands sharing our food, our home, and our clothes with those in need. In this God promises mourning turns to joy, darkness to light, brokenness to healing, weakness to strength, drought to fertility, waste places to strong cities, and even fasting to feasting. Our prayer focus this week as a church is Asia.  With the cataclysmic blow to Japan in the forefront of our minds, let us not forget the rest of this vast and diverse geographic region. This is the most populous and least evangelized region of the world! May God be gracious to send joy, light, healing, and hope to all the peoples of Asia.