Sunday Words of Encouragement January 22, 2023 - Fasting for God's Will

Our Sunday School is now studying James. Our teacher was excited this morning as he shared the lesson from James 1:1-5, which he titled “Say What?” James was addressing believers who were going through times of persecution and hardship. James was giving a direct message of encouragement and reality i.e. 'put on your big girl pants'. Face the situation with joy and active patience because the trouble will lead to endurance in your faith.

We had beautiful worship and praise which ushered in the presence of God. Pastor’s message was from Isaiah 58:1-8 to address God’s meaning of fasting versus man’s meaning. God is directing Isaiah to admonish the people who seek God daily and who look like they are doing right but have deceived themselves. James 1:26. It is stated repeated in the Bible, “everyman looks right in his own eyes”.

God looks at our hearts and motives. Proverbs 21:2. Fasting with wrong motive is not good. We should not be seeking our own agendas, but rather seeking to do God’s Will. We need to ask God to allow us to follow His Will.

We should not seek our own pleasures but seek His will. It is part of honoring the Sabbath, known as the Sabbath principle. Give the day to worship and to God, trusting that He is able to maintain the world, and particularly our own world, without us.

While fasting, the flesh will rebel. We need to die to self and show the fruit of the Spirit: self-control.

As children of God we should be walking in the Spirit. We may get agitated, but, like Christ, we should be angry without sinning. If we are led by our flesh, we are disqualified from blessings.

Humbling ourselves in fasting is just one step. The next is to seek His Will and be available as a servant to God. God wants to restore us and the surrounding circumstances through us.
He wants to break all yokes in our lives and let us find freedom in His Will.

We're not a submitted church for just 2023, but for generations to come. Being submitted starts with the people wanting God more than their own pleasures. Allow Him to restore and rebuild.

I found this song which is fitting for today’s message: Trust in You.

Verses for Today:
Isaiah 58:6-8
6“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
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.


My Heavenly Father, Redeeming Lamb, and Guiding Spirit, I know you see the bigger picture in my life and in all the world. I pray that You will help me to surrender to Your Will.