The following is an excerpt from our daily devotional series Fasting and the Heart of God.

“… Then your light shall break your forth…Then you shall call… [God] will say, ‘Here I am’ … The Lord will guide you…satisfy your soul…a watered garden…a spring of water…If you turn away your foot from [abusing] the Sabbath…Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord…”  (Isaiah 58:8, 9, 11, 13, 14)

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We are almost at the mid-point of 21 days of repentance and fasting, meditating on themes from Isaiah 58. Because God’s Word is what it is, we are receiving His truth in our “inward being” (Psalm 51:6) and making renewal decisions. Receptive hearts lead believers to new levels of repentance that bring freedom, releasing them from bondage. The Holy Spirit shows us our failures and “besetting sins” not to condemn, but so they can be laid aside for better choices. By His power we are liberated to move onward and upward. We all fail, but we need not stay there. The Apostle Paul wrote that he was “knocked down but never knocked out” (2 Corinthians 4:9, Phillips). The psalmist said, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts …” (Psalm 95:8). Sanctification is progressive, and by God’s grace we see things now that God wants to change in us, whereas a few months or years ago we didn’t realize such things were displeasing to Him.

Pray for your fellow intercessor.

This brings us back to Isaiah 58, for as we saw in yesterday’s devotional, the chapter is not intended to be a series of rebukes leading to hopelessness, but, instead, a series of conditional promises, whereby God is saying, “If you will obey my words, if you will practice the redemptive acts that reflect my heart, turning from selfish ways, I will bless you beyond measure. I am scolding now so you will turn from your own perspectives (self-centered) to embrace my ways (gracious, serving, giving, liberating). If you demonstrate repentance (turning around), I will actually be at your service, standing by to help you; your lives will flourish,” and so on (promises and blessings these devotionals reflect day by day).

As is our Father’s merciful way, He gives the choice to us. What will I do? Live life as He has planned and directed and be enriched, or continue in my selfish ways and miss the full level of blessing He desires for my life? By God’s grace, I choose His way. I’m sure you will too.

 In your time seeking God today:

• Offer God your heart in worship and repentance. Have you sensed areas where you feel you have fallen short of God’s ideals for your Christian journey?
• Ask for grace to walk on a higher plane. God always blesses a humble, repentant heart.
• The key for all of us is first to humble ourselves. Pledge to Him a renewing of your mind by digging more deeply into His Word (Romans 12:2). Ask Father God to open His Word and His ways to you. The Holy Spirit will not condemn but encourage you. Ask Him for renewed hunger and thirst for righteousness; you will be filled (Matthew 5:6).
• Record in your prayer journal what you are “seeing” and “hearing” through these devotional meditations.

Related Scripture:

• Psalm 95:1-8; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11; 2 Chronicles 7:13-14; Psalm 23
• Hebrews 13:5-6; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Matthew 5:6; Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5

Fasting and the Heart of God Full PDF Version

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(Photo Credit: Katsia Jazwinska on Unsplash)