Fasting - Who Me?

Background Isaiah 58:1–12

FASTING – WHO ME?

. . . the kind of fasting I have chosen: . . . spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed (Isaiah 58:6,10)

THE PHONE RANG. “Can you please come! My husband has just had all of his teeth removed. He had to be taken to the hospital to stop the bleeding. He is home now, but in lots of pain.”

I groaned. I had just been to the dentist myself to have a molar removed! A long needle; a dentist getting tired while trying to break the root from my jaw; packing coming out; anesthetic all gone! I was a mess!

Someone was wanting me to visit them! I began to realize, “God may be at work. He may be calling me to His kind of fasting!”

“His kind of fasting!” The thought shocked me! What does this have to do with fasting? Lord, I only fast in emergencies, like having my tooth out!”

Quietly I listened, “You’ll be alright, just go!” My jaw throbbing, I went, with pain pills! We all experienced the comfort of the Holy Spirit as we prayed together.

Back home again, my pain subsiding without pills, I mused, “Is this what Isaiah meant?” Christ met my own need in the midst of ministering to someone else’s need!

Jesus testified to this at a well in Samaria when offered food, saying, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” (John 4:32)

- Paul Wilson

Using Who, What, Why, When and Where, write out the needs, (spiritual or physical), of a neighbor then respond accordingly.

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