THE FAST THAT I HAVE CHOSEN - Isaiah 58:6
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Sin places a heavy burden upon your life; it oppresses you and places upon you a yoke of unrighteousness. God does not want you to be burdened by the wages of your sins; instead HE desires to transform your mind so that you are free from sin and death.
In the story Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian is carrying a heavy burden. This burden is not released until he reached the cross. The cross will separate us from our own iniquity. It is because of the blood of Jesus that we are able to be free once again.
In our Christian lives, Satan loves to remind us of our wickedness. Satan does not want us to believe that we are free. Satan will do everything possible to distract you from the will of God by reminding you of your past sins. Satan will continue to use your past sins to encourage you to continue to sin so that your influence for Christ will be greatly diminished.
God does not want you to be conformed to this world; instead HE desires that you be transformed with the new mind that is in Christ Jesus. One tool that God has given to you in order to be transformed in the newness of life is fasting. When you fast, you are abstaining from the things of this world. Granted, God gave us food to nourish our bodies so that we might have life. However, there are times where sin will have a stronghold in your life that you need to be freed from the bondage of sin.
As you abstain from food, you will have to rely upon God to give you the strength to make it day by day. As you learn to rely upon God, God will begin to purify not only your body, but also your soul. By fasting, God can show you your iniquities that are binding your soul from doing even more for HIM. God can purify your life of all bondages so that once again you are free to fully serve HIM.
Fasting should be a regular part of your Christian life. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said “But thou, when thou fastest” (Matthew 6:17). Jesus did not say if, HE said when. This means that you should fast. You should abstain from the things of this world in order to draw closer to God.
We know from Scripture that when Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration that HE was fasting. We know that when Moses received the law that he was in the middle of a 40 day fast. We know that Daniel first fasted and prayed before Gabriel came and gave him his vision. We know that Elijah had fasted 40 days before God spoke to him in a still small voice and showed him what was next for his life.
Fasting will transform your life. It will transform your life because you are making a decision to put the things of God above the things of this world. Fasting will renew your mind so that you live a Christ centered life. You know that you are supposed to add virtue to your life. Virtue is thinking upon the things of God. As you eliminate the bondage of sin from your life by fasting and replace it with the things of God, you will find a new freedom from the temptations of this world. Replacing the things of this world with the things of God will give you the strength to do what is right in the eyes of God.