The True Fast

Give your life away. Give it away over and over again. When you feel you have nothing left to offer, give some more. There is something powerful about taking our eyes off ourselves, fixing our gaze on Jesus and going to meet people’s needs in the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, doing so produces intimacy and passion for Jesus and the things of God.

God explains in this passage in Isaiah that He has chosen a fast where we are to loose chains, break heavy yokes, and set the oppressed free. These verses give us a few practical steps by encouraging us to spend ourselves feeding the hungry, finding places for the wanderers to sleep, and clothing the naked. The Kingdom of God comes down from heaven, and Jesus is exalted when we corporately and individually give ourselves to this kind of crazy activity.

Intimacy with Jesus comes in the midst of spending our lives for His sake. After Isaiah tells us to give our lives setting people free, he shares the fruit of that lifestyle; "then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear... then you will call, and the Lord will answer... the Lord guides you... satisfies your needs... strengthens your frame... you will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. You will rebuild ancient ruins, and will raise up age old foundations. You will be called a repairer of the breech and restorer of the streets with dwellings."

I occasionally pray this scripture back to God, saying," God let me become a repairer of the breech." It is awesome and powerful to think we can give our lives to people in the name of Jesus and the in power of God. As we do we become more intimate with Him.

Charlie Hall

Charlie Hall is an original.  Living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he’s a songwriter, lead worshipper and mentor with a passion to see the lost rejoice in the hope of Christ.