Isaiah 58:9 Fast:  A unique and transformational fast

Try it....you might like it!
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This is your invitation to join in a unique but transformational 40 day fast across the nations.  
Romans 12:2 exhorts, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  
Isaiah 58:9 relays keys to do just that!  If we put away the "pointing finger," all negative thoughts towards ourselves and others, the result is transformation.
Isaiah 58:10-12 relays the promises of  God's powerful release of provision, goodness, strength and restoration.

You are invited into this transformative call to fast, for the renewing of our minds and for strength and hope for the future.

Purpose:  
Build community in our individual lives, families, local communities, and strengthen us for the season ahead.

How to participate: 
  • Fast from negative thinking; start with yourself, then family, friends, and onto ministry and professional spheres so that your "community" is strengthened.
  • Renew covenant with God through agreement with His Word
  • Acknowledge and bless the giftings of those around you (you'd be surprised at the response!) 
  • Reconcile with God and man through action and seek renewed relationship where there has been brokenness
  • When strongholds are particularly difficult to give up, a food fast may be helpful as well. 

Expected results:  
Isaiah 58:9 Look at Isaiah 58:10-12.  A 40 day fast will strengthen us and our communities: 
  • "Your light will shine in the darkness"  Isaiah 58:10
  • Isaiah 58:11  
    • The Lord will guide you continually
    • He will satisfy your soul in drought
    • Strengthen your bones
    • Be like a watered garden and spring of water whose waters do not fail
  • To renew covenant with God and with each other
  • Strengthen righteous alliances with other believers spanning family, local community to nations. 
  • And finally, Isaiah 58:12  "Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In."  Isaiah 58:10-12

Building community is an important and valued goal for the Global Watch.  This fast is a "bridging" fast that not only bridges us across the nations, but should deepen relationships in your immediate sphere of influence.  If taken seriously, it will build stronger "infrastructure" strength both wide and deep.  Our prayer is that we enter this fast one way and come out another.  
Below are thoughts for this fast for a renewed and transformed mind:
  • Do a corporate community fast with others you are close to and are accountable to.  Ideas of for community include:
    • Family
    • Friends
    • Church
    • Co-workers
    • Ministry co-laborers
      ​Example:  In our regional corporate community, we are covenanting to pray for each other and have sent family names to pray over daily.
  • This is a fast to re-align our thinking with the Word of God about ourselves and others.  
    • Refuse condemnation, and receive conviction that releases you from old disqualifying thoughts or strongholds
      • Repent for wrongful thinking or taking on curses towards yourself and feeding on them, rather than on God's faithfulness (Psalm 37:3)
      • Repent of word curses, or offenses towards others that keep strongholds of opinions against them.  Rather, release and pray for those who persecute you and ask God to fill your heart with compassion.  This releases you from the curse and places you under the blessing of God (Matthew 5:44).  The issue is then placed into God's all knowing and wise hands.  He is the judge, and deals with His children in wise and wonderful ways that will always bring life.  
    • Allow the goodness of God to be your focus.  Goodness of God leads to:
      • Repentance:  Romans 2:4
      • His Glory:  Exodus 33:19
      • His Power:  2 Thessalonians 1:11
  • This is a fast to release us from any strongholds of offense
    • Refuse self-righteousness where false judgments have been laid against you
    • Forgive your brother
    • Make efforts wherever possible to pray for and reconcile with your brother.  2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Matthew 5:11-12
  • Fasting foods may very well be a necessary and important part of the fast.  
  • Scriptures to review and align us with God's Word:
    • Matthew 5:1-12
    • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
    • Matthew 18:15-20

Be a part and see transformation grow in your community!
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"Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, 'The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall.  Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there.  Our God will fight for us.'”  
Nehemiah 4:19-20