Day Eleven: Fasting Update – Rewards for Fasting #4 – “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6).
Reward #4: To break every yoke.
A yoke is a bondage or a bad habit that you cannot seem to break and leave behind you for good. When you fast, bad habits ARE broken. They absolutely are! Addictions to various foods or drinks are broken when you fast.
We want to be yoked to the Lord, not addictive substances. Years ago, Christian artist Carman had an album “Addicted to Jesus.” That's a yoke we can LIVE with! “My yoke is easy and My burden is light,” Jesus said in Matthew 11:30.
Yoga means “yoke.” And sadly, there are many addicted (yoked) to its practice, not realizing it is Hinduism (see http://praisemoves.com/calt ).
Addictions to sugar, nicotine, caffeine and food portions are broken by fasting. We're consecrating ourselves — walking in the spirit more and not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. We know we can do it now. God can work in and through us now. When we leave the fast, the opportunity then comes to “LIVE THE FASTED LIFE” and not go back to the way we were.
Behaviors are broken during a fast. Focusing on the Lord as your provider and your REAL food, has a calming, humbling effect on us.
Have you noticed you're more patient with others? Are you getting insights into people's personalities and problems that you didn't have before? Are you operating in more compassion? The personality part of fasting is working on you and for you.
We want to move more into the image of Jesus Christ — from glory to glory (and from there to more glory and GLORY — all to the glory of the Lord!).
“Christ in YOU, the hope of glory!” (Colossians 1:27).
