“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 broke every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter”
This is the first part of Isaiah 58; it explains the “true meaning” of fasting. We fast to find intimacy with the Lord, break down walls, release various burdens, seek His face, and help people who need it.
You guessed it, the cat is out of the bag. I have been called, so to speak, to a week-long fast. Juice, tea, and gum have been my best friends. I have never fasted before this and have wanted to try it out for two months. The Lord nudged me and said now is the time. Most of the squad has also been lead to fast one thing or another this month!
The part of the chapter that talks about sharing the food you are not eating hit me like a truck. And one day while my team and I were sitting in prayer, asking the Lord what/ where/ who was going to be our ministry for the day. He said, “how about baking cookies and passing them out to the needy?” That is exactly what we did.
We spent our food budget for the day on cookie supplies and got to work. The smell was so tempting. There is nothing like a fresh, home-baked chocolate chip cookie. Whose mouth is watering? But we were resolved and didn’t feed our growling bellies. There were other bellies that needed the blessing more.
We hit the street with a heaping plate of warm, perfectly made cookies. (haha should of wrote this after the fast was completed). Anyways, we started praying, “Lord, show us who needs a little bit of you today.”
And He showed us alright. This is what a small, Jesus-love filled act did.
– Put a smile on a crying grandma’s face.
– Brought joy to a poor and disabled child.
– Showed us the generosity of the poor. A little, old lady gave us a piece of her flat bread for one of our cookies. That bread was her lifeline, her income, but she traded us anyway.
– Showed some Ukraine refugees Jesus.
– Filled a tired, hungry, homeless, old man with some sustenance.
– Cheered up a sad, lonely, down and out woman sitting alone.
– Helped us meet an awesome, triathlon-loving couple from Siberia.
– Brought more joy to an already joyful artist.
– Demonstrated our appreciation for our squad mates as we delivered hot cookies to them in bed.
– Made various hostel guests feel seen.
– Showed other homeless/ elderly people that they are noticed and they matter.
– Oh right, also, brought a demon possessed lady right up into my face (thought she was going to punch me). I guess Satan didn’t like what we were doing with the cookies.
It did not just bless the people of Armenia. It blessed us as well. We got to live out the Bible word for word in a modern context. We got to see how easy and accessible ministry can be. It does not have to be a fancy, shiny operation. It is as simple as saying, “Jesus, how can I help you today?”
Let me just gush about “ATL” –ask the Lord- month for a hot minute. We get to test our ministry muscles out without supervision. We get to petition the Lord and He answers. I have felt the freest so far this month. I have felt no pressure to perform, no thoughts that maybe I have not done enough for the day, and no worry that I am enough. I feel healthy in my leadership position and my team is thriving more than usual. And it is simply all due to the fact that all we have to do is listen and obey what God is whispering to us! Every yoke and burden fall to the ground and our Father tells us that He is so ever proud of us. Rest is easy, clarity is in abundance, and love is easily extended. I heart ATL people!
On a real note, I was terrified that this month would be boring and I would feel like I did not do enough the whole month. Bye to that lie, sucker. I am finally understanding rest.
The Lord has ordained team ministry days, dates with Jesus days, inner-healing days, art days, cookie giveaway days, worship in the park sessions, prayer walks, various people in our paths, and an endless supply of joy that we get to bring to the oppressed, sad Armenian people/ refugees. Let me just tell you, I had a man come to me and ask me why I was so joyful and happy all the time. 1 Peter 3:15 in action baby. You best believed I had a ready answer for that one. We also continued to discussed evolution versus creation and he took what I had to say because I am a “scientist” (Bio major hehe). OOO it was good!
Here is some more truth- what is everyone lived their life out like this? There would be no need for missions and outreaches. Neighbor would be loving neighbor so well.
So back to the fast; here are some rad promises if you embark on the true meaning of fasting. Also, quick tip/ warning, you have to be uber careful of your intentions while fasting. Thoughts like “oh, look how skinny I am” or “God has to listen to me because I did this” are both very dangerous, slippery slopes to be on. Having the right intentions/ motives are key to a healthy fast.
“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.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
What crazy promises.
