Text: Isaiah 58; Isaiah 30

It is the half-way point—twenty days of a focused time with the Lord in fastings, prayers, and Bible readings. Looking back over the past three weeks what have you learned about your discipline, thoughts, and conversation? What have you learned about yourself?

The closer we draw to our Lord the more holy we see Him and the more wretched we see ourselves. In that wretchedness a new and greater appreciation for God’s mercy and grace is acquired, especially after we see ourselves as He already knows us to be. Following the revulsionary revelation of our sinful nature, we are inspired to put “self” to death even more than before. In that death we deny our desire and fulfill Isaiah’s word, “”If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (58:13-14 ESV).

In addition to the blessings of verses 13 and 14 we also have the promise of being one “who raises up”, and one who is a repairer and a restorer. Proclaim these promises as the fruit of an obedient fast, delight in the Lord, and hear Him say, “This is the way, walk ye in it” (30:21).