Tag: don’t give up
Fasting for Healing
Scripture reading for October 9: Isaiah 58:6-8 “”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 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. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, “Here I am.””
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Fasting is a spiritual discipline where a person or congregation of God’s people deny themselves food or drink or pleasure for a set season in order to seek the Lord. Some fasts were purposefully laid out by God but others usually had a specific need that was being addressed. Often that need was to hear from the Lord regarding a crisis or needed direction or protection. Isaiah addressed the practice of fasting in his day. People were going through the motions but missed the real point of fasting. God desired repentance–a change of heart and a change of direction of their lives. Fasting should produce actions that lined up with God’s heart. His heart was to feed the hungry and house the homeless. It was to cover the naked and for each person to care for their own family members.
The end result of a true fast is God bringing forth in our lives the needed healing, protection, deliverance or righteousness from His glorious presence. He promised He would answer our call for help with “Here I Am!” What an amazing promise this is for God’s people! As Paul encouraged the church at Galatia, we must continue to do good deeds in line with God’s heart even if nothing seems to be happening for us. In due season, we will reap. Don’t give up!
Prayer: Father God, fill me with Your Holy Spirit today and lead me to live a fasted life filled with good works You have prepared for me. I won’t give up because I know the season of reaping is coming. Amen.
Stay connected with God!
Scripture reading for April 26th: 2nd Chronicles 13-16
“Listen to me, Asa and all of Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2nd Chronicles 15:2
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2nd Chronicles 15:7
King Asa started out right and did right in the eyes of the Lord. He proceeded to remove idols from the land and commanded God’s people to seek the Lord and obey His laws. The land enjoyed peace under his godly rule. When an attack came from Zerah the Cushite, Asa called out to the Lord for help and God answered him. (2nd Chronicles 14:11) King Asa had a great victory as he walked close to the Lord.
God saw something inside of this king that He addressed through the prophetic ministry of Azariah, son of Oded. He encouraged Asa to keep on seeking the Lord and to stay with the Lord. He warned him and his followers that if they forsook the Lord, they would end up in trouble. He told King Asa to be strong and not give up. God would reward him for his work.
The prophetic word is meant to strengthen us, but we must stay humble and teachable. Asa was humble at the time of an earlier word, but later Asa went his own way without consulting God and enlisted the Syrian King Ben-Hadad with monies from the temple treasuries. The prophet Hanani told him he had done a foolish thing and would now be at war. Asa became angry with the seer and imprisoned him. He mistreated some of the Lord’s people as well. He got a disease in his feet, but refused to seek the Lord and only went to doctors. As a result, he died.
Thank God today for the prophetic word that seeks to warn and encourage us. Ask the Lord to teach you what you need to know. If you have a hard heart, connect with His amazing love and let this word encourage you. Be strong, do not give up, for your work will be rewarded! 2nd Chronicles 15:7