The Fast

The Fast
“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house-when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?

Day 1 (yesterday)
Fasting negativity.
I was on my way to the dentist with Rafal for his monthly braces adjustment.  We stopped at the light at the Middletown Mall intersection.  He pointed out about ten Mon power trucks.

“Wow, something BIG must have happened!” he exclaimed.

I glanced at him and my spiritual gift of sarcasm rose up with in me (that is a gift, right?) and I almost slammed him with “Where have you been?” or “Don’t you know what’s going on in the world?”  The Holy Spirit quickened within me be gracious.  Explain.  I did. Thank you, Jesus!

At the dentist office, I read 7 while Rafal had his braces tightened.  I overheard a young man say that he had recently donated a kidney to his dad.  As soon as the young man sat down, the Holy Spirit nudged me, get up and talk to that young man.  Bless him.

But Lord, that is not part of the fast!  I’m reading a religious book!

Nudge. Nudge.  Nudge.

I got up and walked over to him.  We had a lovely conversation and I told him what a wonderful thing he had done.  Know the last thing he said to me?

“BLESS YOU!”

 WOW!  Bless me.

I shared the above verse on fasting because of the last phrase  “that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?”.    It’s important not to ignore our own flesh and blood family when fasting. I am fasting for them first.  If things are in order in my heart, then my home, then the ripple effect.  In fact, if a fast causes more harm to them because of our bitterness, exhaustion, irritability then we are putting them in bonds of another kind.  The fast that God has chosen looses the bands of wickedness, lets the oppressed go free and breaks every yoke if you take away from your midst every form of false, harsh, unjust and wicked speaking. (Is. 58: 6,9)