Deeper Life #142

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

—Isaiah 58:4

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TOLD His disciples, “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:17–18). The true inward significance of fasting is that I have turned to God, either on account of my own sins or others, allowing Him to fulfill His purpose in me.

Isaiah 58 describes a pretentious sort of fasting. What direction will our feet take as soon as the vestments of fasting are taken off? What way will our faces naturally turn? What are our hands going to do? Unless the feet, the hands, and the face are images of the true condition of the heart, our fasting is a deep distress to God. He will not accept hypocritical fasting and praying.

Prayer Thought: Lord, help me to fast in the interests of Your kingdom.

SUGGESTED READING: Isaiah 58:1–7