The Fast That I Choose…

 6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'

"If you take away the yoke from your midst,

The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 If you extend your soul to the hungry

And satisfy the afflicted soul,

Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,

And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you continually,

And satisfy your soul in drought,

And strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

12 Those from among you

Shall build the old waste places;

You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,

The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In—Isaiah 58:6-12

All my Bible readings this morning seemed to be driving home the same message, which the portion from Isaiah 58 above and Ephesians 5:1-2 below, encapsulated well. 

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Oh Father, May I be an imitator of Your Son, Jesus! For then:

your (my) light shall dawn in the darkness,

And your (my)darkness shall be as the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you (me)continually,

And satisfy your (my)soul in drought,

And strengthen your(my) bones;

You (I) shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.—Isaiah 58:10-11

Father…By Your Spirit, may Your light shine in my soul. May it light up the darkness of this world and be a repairer and a restorer.  Purify my heart!  Align my will with Yours. Make me as You were in this world. I want to be that spring whose waters do not fail. 

As I obey Your word sincerely from my heart, make me like that tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when drought comes, for its leaves remain green. It is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.  Make my love abound more and more…fill me with the fruits of righteousness that comes through Your Son, Jesus, to Your glory and Your praise. 

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Corinthians 3:18

With all that is within in me Father, may my heart desire to preach YOU and not myself to those around me…  

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—2 Corinthians 4:6