Bridal Fast Day 1 - Continued

My day one ends in raised voices and somewhat edgy mood. My husband asked me what the matter was. I told him - I am fasting and had not had food for 9 hours. My stomach starts to growl when I start to prepare for dinner.

Isaiah 58 keeps coming into my mind:

True Fasting

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?
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?
Note: The prayers during fasting that will ascend to heaven are the prayers to loose the chains of injustice, untie the cords of the yoke to set the oppressed free.

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 him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Note: Lord, we have not stop giving to the hungry, to those who devote their lives to your kingdom.

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Note: thank you for your wonderful promises: healing comes, righteousness shine before me and the glory of God be my rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
Note: God will answer when we get rid of yoke of oppression, blaming, and gossip. What is oppressing me? What am I complaining about? Tonight, my heart is burdened with some warning notes from school regarding my daughter's reading. It is not that she is not smart enough to do it very well. It is that attitude of irresponsibility (late in turning homework, forget items..) really bothers me. Is it because we as parents too responsible in reminding her cause her to relinquish her responsibility? Am I overacting? I carried the burden of training up our child in the ways of the Lord. It is becoming too heavy that I am losing the joy. Oh, Lord, I have to lay it at your feet and have to let go of my burden.

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Note: what precious promises of His provision when we choose to give.

12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Note: thank you for calling me Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
Note: I have to confess that I have not consistently honor His Day and have not always delighted myself in the Sabbath.

14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Note: Joy! That is what I want and what my heart desire! The outcome of True Fasting is Joy! The True Fasting is heart change resulting relinquish of our own ways, giving, praying to break free the bondage of oppressions, running away from complaining and gossip, and delighting in His Sabbath.