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A Fast You Can Do


Have you ever wondered if fasting could help you with your illness? 

After all many fasts in the bible resulted in deliverance from impossible situations.

But can we really fast with a chronic illness?

Not without a lot of pain.

Yet, God's preferred fast doesn't involve food.

The preferred fast comes from Isaiah 58 (in bullet points), summarized below:

1. Help The Oppressed & Burdened - Not Add1.


What can you do to help someone who is overburdened? How can you help those who are oppressed? (Spiritually or Physically?)


From Isaiah 58:6,9.
  • To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
  • To undo the bands of the yoke,
  • And to let the oppressed go free
  • And break every yoke.
  • If you remove the yoke from your midst.

2. Help Those In Need - Not Hide.
I find it hard not to hide especially when depressed. But here we are commanded not to hide but help.


From Isaiah 58:7.
  • Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry?
  • And bring the homeless poor into the house;
  • When you see the naked, to cover him;
  • And not to hide yourself from your own flesh.

3. Be Sympathetic1 - Not Selfish.

It's easy to think of only yourself when you're constantly ill. But that might be where the problem lies....in our self- centeredness. Philippians 2:4

From Isaiah 58:10.
  • And if you give yourself to the hungry.
  • And satisfy the soul of the afflicted.

4. Remove Blaming, Contempt, Judging, Backbiting - Use Kind Words1.

This fast will reveal many sins including that of contempt for others. How often do you judge your neighbor when you have the same sin? Romans 2:1


From Isaiah 58:9.
  • Remove...The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness.

5. Honor Him On the Sabbath - Don't do Your Own Thing.

Do you delight in attending church and meeting with God's people? If not, may be we need to find out why in prayer.


From Isaiah 58:13-14.
  • If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot
  • From doing your own pleasure on My holy day.
  • And call the Sabbath a delight,
  • The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,.
  • Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words,.

6. The Result? 

This is the promise...you will have God's attention, provision, guidance and be strengthened.  How can you not desire this kind of divine help?


From Isaiah 58:9,11.
  • Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
  • The Lord will guide you always;
  • he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
  • and will strengthen your frame.


7. Ask For Help.

It goes against my very nature to stop judging, start thinking of others and not hide from others. But God can help us, if we ask.

8. When We Fall 

We all fall and forget our fasts but don't give up. Ask for forgiveness and start again. Proverbs 24:16


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