Thus the Fast

 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
 
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
    lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
    and remove the chains that bind people. 
 Share your food with the hungry,
    and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
    and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
    and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
    and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. 

 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
    ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. 

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!' 

Isaiah 58:6-9 (NLT)

A homily, with right motives. It's God's idea. He leads us. The right reason. The right season. The reason why? The kind of fast that He wants. A new fast and the benefits that it can bring are life changing. A New fast might be life-saving. Don't be afraid to start.

 

Love mercy. Good works will bring the blessings of God when they are lead of the Holy Spirit and done because of our love for fellow man and for God. We need a way to cleanse the heart. Thus the fast. When we fast and pray there is a move of God like no other. But, remember, don't mention it to anyone or you lose the reward. It's God's way. Deny the flesh. Deny the will. When we stop pointing the finger and spreading vicious rumors it gets God's attention.Then when you call, God will answer.

Freedom from addictions. God says a fast done His Way will remove the chains that bind us. We need a way to be free from our sins. We need a way to cleanse the spirit. Thus the fast. With right motives and the Holy Spirit we can become freed from all our sin and oppression. In the right season, the fast can free us from our addictions.

For the love of people. A fast done with right motives will lead to sharing-the food, the shelter, the clothes, the presence. We need a way to restore our love for one another. We need to cleanse the body and when it's done for the right reason it can be a powerful thing. Thus the fast. Your good works will strengthen and refresh you, mind, body and soul. The fast can detox the liver and the kidneys. The fast is a way to free our God given immune system to cleanse the body and make it entirely clean from nose to toes.

For salvation and healing of the wounds. When you lie down and the blood pools in your fingers and toes, there is pain. You need a way to cleanse the blood. Thus the fast. Live right and love mercy and find your comfort in that. Fast from the things that you don't need. God is all that you need. Abstinence. When He is in it, your godliness and your faith in Jesus will grow and bring the glory of the Lord. In Jesus, you find salvation. In Jesus, your wounds are healed. In Jesus you find your healing, He overcame death and the grave and for that you can be thankful. 'Yes, I am here.' He has always been right here. That's the benefits of the fast. For that you can be thankful!

Source: 'Drummingthemessagehome', November 27, 2019, blog post.