Fasting must be accompanied with goodwill and good works toward others to be effective and pleasing to God.
Scripture reading
Isaiah 58
Key passages
Isaiah 58:3-4 — “‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.”
Fasting thought
“Why is this fasting unacceptable to God? What’s wrong with it? What’s wrong with it is that it left the sin in their lives untouched. The only authentic fasting is fasting that includes a spiritual attack against our own sin. Whatever else we fast for, we must fast for our own holiness. We cannot fast for anything with authenticity while living in known sin.” John Piper
Prayer
Father in heaven, grant me the faith to move closer to the light of God’s holiness and to deal with the darkness of my own soul. Grant me the courage through this fast to examine my attitudes and behaviors toward those around me and to make right any wrongs for which I am responsible. Father, I desire that my fast be acceptable to you. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Take a few moment to journal what God had taught you today.