Friday daily devotional by Pastor David Okoye (Ambassadors Diet, 23rd June, 2017) - The place of fasting

“Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all thy labours.” Isaiah 58:3

Verse 6 of our opening text says;

“This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.” (MSG). 

The KJV rendering says;

“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?” 

MORE: Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor David Okoye (Ambassadors Diet 16th September 2016) - Your Source Of Strength

The things of God are spiritual. He is not one that can forget our labour of Love. You see, fasting is a big tool God has ordained for his children to reign in life. The benefits of fasting cannot be restricted to just an aspect of your Christian life, in our place of fasting and prayers there is a lot the Lord does for the God-child that he may never know.

There are bands of wickedness that are loosed. And heavy burdens are lifted. Fasting is a time where as the God-child comes before the Lord laying aside every distraction, he is empowered for victorious living.

Little wonder 1 Timothy 4:8 says;

“for bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 

The Amplified rendering puts it thus,

“for physical training is of some value (useful for a little while), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way…” 

This is what fasting really is: spiritual exercise. Fasting is not a time for the God-child to starve himself, smite all his enemies or the devil or even invoke God. But fasting is a time for the God-child to exercise his spirit man.

It is a time the God-child sets apart to commune with his source (Zion). Verse 8 of Isaiah 58 shows us the result of God's idea of fasting,

“Then shall thy light break forth as the Morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; and the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.” 

Do not seek pleasure in your fast i.e. don't seek for things that will engage your flesh; instead give yourself to the things that will pleasure your spirit.

DECLARATION:
I give more attention to my spirit. I am growing everyday as I exercise my spiritual man always. I reign and rule in life.

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE:
Isaiah 58:1-10