Week 1: Cultivating a Culture of Prayer and Fasting
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 58:6-9
Key Verse:
Isaiah 58:6Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Proper fasting demonstrates itself in a life of practical daily holiness. Isaiah 58:6 says that correct fasting loose the bands of wickedness/injustice. This is not the only promise. According to the same verse, fasting that pleases God undo heavy burdens and set the oppressed free.
It is possible to take a perfect thing and abuse it; to degenerate fasting to a mere external form of worship without an internal sincere heart meaning. Choose to practice proper fasting the pleases God by guarding your heart. He promises that you can experience freedom from burdens and chains when you fast with a sincere heart.
Prayer Points
- Ask God to search your heart and to reveal any wrong beliefs you might have about God or fasting.
- Ask God to purify your motives for fasting. May your fasting result in greater freedom over injustice and oppression.