Day 5 – The fast God desires (20/01)

'Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. – Isaiah 58:3 – 8


The purpose of fasting is to take our eyes off the things of the world and focus on God. During Isaiah’s time, the Israelites sought their own pleasure and oppressed people during their fast. God did not accept this attitude in fasting and said that such fasting would not please God.

Before we begin the fasting tomorrow as one body, check if there is any sin in your life. Check also your attitude in fasting. Sin and poor attitudes will prevent us from focusing on God during the fast. We have to be broken and repentant during the fast, seeking to know God and to submit to His will. Only then will God be pleased with such a fast.

Through this fast, let us understand that only He can restore our hearts and bring revival to our campus, making His name powerfully known! Let us humble ourselves before Him and submit to His authority!

For those who are unfamiliar with fasting, you may want to check out the following site:
http://www.billbright.com/howtofast/


Prayer and Meditation

Praying for your Personal needs:
- Pray that God will reveal to you the purpose of the fast
- That through the fast, you’ll become more connected with God
- That through the fast, you’ll be transformed; experience a personal revival
- Give us an increased desire to seek Your face, to draw near to You.

Praying for the Ministry and Campus:
- People will all come closer to God, and get more engaged through the fast
- Fast will be honouring to God
- We will be bold and courageous in inviting friends for harvest rally
- Change of heart and mind for the pre-believers
- Open-ness of the hearts of the pre-believers
- Pray for any pre-conceived ideas and misunderstandings about the faith to be erased and cleared