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Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. – Isaiah 58:10

 

Fasting involves our separating ourselves from food for a season in order to draw close to God on behalf of others. This practice can be easily perverted into a religious activity to be seen of men (as Jesus reminded the Pharisees) or something that is performed while tolerating strife, debate, and self-interest (Isaiah 58:3-4).

Isaiah said that the fast God has chosen is one that focuses on the needs of others. When we become so burdened about a yoke of oppression upon the life of another that we refuse to partake of our normal food until that person is delivered, God is pleased (Isaiah 58:6). For example, Daniel fasted, not for himself, but for the nation to be returned from Babylon (Daniel 9:3).

If we spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry, then God will bless us with light, health, and water (Isaiah 58:8-11). Our light will be a guide through dark places, our health will give physical prosperity and strength, and our water will provide emotional and spiritual joy in times of drought. As someone once said, “Fasting is another way of feasting!”

2020-12-31T10:53:26-07:00

. . . No weapon turned against you will succeed. And everyone who tells lies in court will be brought to justice. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken! – Isaiah 54:17

The kingdom of darkness is a wicked organization of evil that unceasingly plots against the righteous. This kingdom’s carefully crafted snares and weapons are individually tailored to destroy each child of God.

In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us that “we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms” (v. 12).

God, however, has provided us with a divine covering to protect us from every attack from the enemy. Commonly called “the armor of God,” this protection listed in Ephesians 6:14-17 includes the following elements: “the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness” (v. 14), “for shoes . . . the peace that comes from the Good News” (v. 15), “faith as your shield,” (v. 16), “salvation as your helmet,” and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v. 17).

Standing in this mighty armor and wielding the powerful weapon of the Word of God, we have the strength to “pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit” (v. 18), positioning ourselves firmly upon the promises of God until the devil flees. No matter what weapon the enemy has forged against you, it will not prosper!

2020-09-28T00:00:00-06:00
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