Promises to Claim!

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The fast God desires is not an empty, passionless, religious act that produces no fruit. God cannot bless that. God has a specific purpose for fasting and prayer. Isaiah 58 lists some promises we can claim from fasting with the right attitude and focus.

8 "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard."

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:8-12 (NIV)

The first promise is found in verse eight: ^“Then your light will break forth like the dawn.” This seems to be a promise of illumination. For "light to break forth", there must be an obvious reference to the dawn of a new day. Therefore, the promise offers us a new day of spiritual illumination. I have noticed that during prolonged times of fasting the mind often takes on a new clarity, the Bible seems to light up with revelation. You can read a familiar passage, yet see things that were never revealed in the previous readings. 

The second promise says: “your healing will quickly appear.” I think this can refer to spiritual or physical health. After fasting, your spiritual health will be greater than before. Struggles and hindrances that affected you will be healed. It also refers to physical healing since the Scriptures teach that it is the will of God that we should prosper and be in health (bodily), even as our soul prospers. (3 John 2)

The third promise proclaims, "your righteousness will go before you." This seems to suggest that after the fast others will see Jesus in you in a greater way. You will have a "spiritual influence" that will bring increase to the Kingdom of God.

Be sure that you are spending time in the Word, listening to what Father wants to say to you and claiming the promises that are to be yours. 

I'll share more promises in the next few days.