2025: True Fasting: The Power of Isaiah 58: Fasting Beyond Food

0:00 Hello, beautiful people, and welcome to another episode of Diary of a Black Woman. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and today we're diving into a life-changing approach to fasting, the Isaiah 58 fast. This isn't just about food, it's about transformation spiritually, socially, compassionately. The Isaiah 58 fast is inspired by God's word, where true fasting is defined as a holistic act of justice, generosity, and the care for others. So grab your journals, open your hearts, and let's explore what it means to truly fast according to God's design.

0:43 So what is the Isaiah 58 fast? So let's begin by grounding ourselves in the word. Isaiah 58, 6-7 says, 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 a press free and to break every yoke? 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 them and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.

1:26 God calls us to fast, not just for our personal growth, but to live out his love and justice in tangible ways. True fasting is about breaking chains, lifting burdens, and bringing healing to a hurting world. So the principles of the Isaiah 58 fast. Now let's unpack the core principle of Isaiah 58 fast and how they translate into action in our daily lives. And I want to just pause here and think about when God begins to bless us with an overflow of blessings where we don't have room enough to receive it.

2:14 Sometimes we will begin to hoard it. And so God was like, this is not what I want you to do. And so we have a foundation of as we fast for our breakthrough, that he wants us to be a vessel that he can bless, but he can trust that it will flow through us into the hands of those that he wants to bless also through us. And so Isaiah 58 is kind of the core principle of how this action can take place in our daily lives. So let's break down Isaiah 58. Number one, he says to lose the chains of injustice.

2:56 And so the action, our call to action is to advocate for social justice, Support causes that fight oppression and help free those who are bound by various forms of injustice. So our goal here is to advocate. To untie the cords of the yoke. Call to action. To offer emotional, financial, or spiritual support to those burdened by life's challenges. Encourage and uplift those with actions of kindness. Our call to action here is support here. So we advocate, we're supportive.

3:39 Set the oppressed free. Support freedom, dignity for all people, volunteer, support anti-trafficking organizations, or offer help to individuals in abusive situations. So set the oppressed free. Share your food with the hungry. Donate to food banks. Prepare meals for people experiencing homelessness or support organizations that feed the hungry. You know, I was just got a feed on my phone the other day and it says over seven hundred and seventy thousand people are homeless. And so this is a great opportunity that even now is a good opportunity to give to those people who do support those homeless people that's feeding them and sheltering them.

4:30 That's a lot of people that are going without food and without shelter in 2024 and into 2025. It says, clothe the naked, call to action. So organize clothing drives, donate to charities, or directly help individuals in need of clothing. A lot of times as you're fasting and praying and believing God for your breakthrough, you might have a situation where you are in a situation, you might have a situation where you look in your closet and you have so much stuff to give that you can actually give your items to goodwill or salvation. Army or wherever you give your use, you slightly use goods.

5:15 Some of that stuff can probably go in the garbage, right? But other stuff you can actually give to the people that can use it. And so clothed the naked. And do not turn away from your own flesh and blood. Call the actions, rebuild and strengthen your family bonds, support relatives in need and care for those closest to you. And so as we are fasting, as we are praying into 2025 for our jubilee blessing, for our reset, we can pray for those chains of injustice to be broken, to untie the cores of the yoke for emotional, financial, and spiritual support for those who are being challenged in life.

6:00 To set the oppressed free for those who are being part of the human trafficking ring. And that's going to be a big thing right now. So pray for freedom for them, that they be set free in Jesus' name. Donate food to the hungry, to contribute to the homeless and their support, to clothe the naked, and to support your family. Maybe the clothing, your closets and shoes that you don't wear can even support your family, reunite with your family. So why does the Isaiah 58 fast matter? I mean, God doesn't just have you fast for you. You ever notice that?

6:41 That it's all about, he's a unity kind of God, right? He's into bringing everybody together. He's going to bless you. He wants you to prepare a place for those blessings. but he don't want you to hoard them. He wants you to be able to be a vessel to distribute. And so why does this matter? The fast is so powerful, but it matters because it's for spiritual growth. It deepens your relationship with God as you align your heart with actions and his will. Social impact, it makes a tangible difference in your community by addressing real needs and injustice.

7:23 And personal fulfillment. It brings joy and purpose as you see how your action reflects God's love. This is fasting with a mission. It changes not just your life, but the lives of those around you. So when you're fasting, a lot of times, you ever notice the people, yeah, I'm fasting, yeah, I'm fasting. And so you're already giving yourself the glory. and when it's really not about you, but when you know that you're fasting and you're supposed to keep that to yourself, that's your business. So how you decide to fast is not no one's business, but you and God. But when you're fasting, you're not just fasting.

8:05 And yeah, you might feel weak some days, but on those days you're feeling strong, you are putting the principles of Isaiah 58 into effect. You're figuring out what organizations am I giving to in 2025? And that's what I'm thinking about right now as I'm speaking to you. Who do I want to set free in 2025? What shelters can I donate to? And when I donate, I'm not taking a deposit slip. I'm just dropping off. Do you need a slip? No, I'm donating. I'm not writing anything off. I'm just giving it to you. I'm giving it to you because, hey, I'm not going to use it.

8:47 Even if I write it off, it's not, they don't really give you that much anyway, unless you donate millions of dollars. Maybe that might help. But the little stuff that I'm donating, I didn't have my wear and tear in it. I think somebody's still good quality stuff. So I'm giving it away. I got some bikes I need to giveaway this year. Just some things I want to give away. So just quick overview, Isaiah 58, you can read it on your own and see where God wants to move you. And I just guarantee you that it matters because it will cause you to have spiritual growth. You will feel very proud. God will just smile from heaven and say, you know, you are having a social impact.

9:30 You're not just an absorber of the news. You are actually reaching out to the news. You're actually being part of the change. And then your personal fulfillment. Practical steps to begin at Isaiah 58 fast. We covered a lot of that in the intro episode. So make sure you listen to that, listen to that episode so you don't jump out and do a fast that's going to cause harm to you. I'm going to go into more details in episode three. But I want to make sure that you understand that before you even begin any type of fasting or any type of the principles that you want to see where God wants to move.

10:14 Because that's where you have the greatest impact is where God is moving. And so first you want to pray and reflect. Begin with prayer. Ask God to show where he wants you to act and how you can fulfill the principles of Isaiah 58 in your life. Identify needs. Look around the community. Where are the opportunities to serve? It could be volunteering, donating, or advocating for a change. Set goals. Be specific. Maybe it's committing to feeding five families, volunteering weekly, or organizing a clothing drive.

11:00 Take action. Put your plans into motion. Remembering fasting isn't just about what you give up. It's about what you give to others. Powerful, right? Reflect and adjust. Regularly evaluate your progress. Ask God for guidance and be open to new ways that you might lead you to serve. So fasting is the first part of what God wants you to do. I mean, it's so interesting because as you study the Bible, God always has more for you to do. As a new Christian, I remember a long time you think fasting, you do your fasting on your January with the church. and then you forget about that.

11:45 Nothing happens. You pray, you fast, you're believing for me, me, me, me, me, and then that's it. You leave. No one ever tells you that as you fast, that you should be believing for somebody else besides yourself. Isaiah 58 tells you what happens. Isaiah 58 says, you need to believe for some things to break free in other people's lives. Why? Because when you do that, That's when some spiritual growth happens. That's when things begin to happen. The latter part of Isaiah 58 also tells you what happens when you do those things.

12:31 It says your light will spring forth. Things begin to happen for you. But our focus to instill the light spring forth. That means your jubilee will spring forth. your divine surprises will bring spring forth. Amen. And so the beauty of this fast is about living out God's love. Isaiah 58, 10 promises, if you spend yourself on 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 noon day.

13:13 It's like, then your light will shine. God will shine on you. Then your blessings, you become like a magnet for what God has for you. Don't you all want to be a magnet for what God has for me, for you? Imagine the impact of your obedience, not just on your life, but the lives of those you touch. The power of the Isaiah 58 fast is that it's just only you're getting the benefit of God touching you, but now God's touching you and now you are touching others. Powerful, right? Look how that, it's like that chain reaction. You ever heard of that?

13:54 And somebody may have been part of it or been a person who received from it. The payback, you're in a coffee line and someone pies your coffee and then it pays all the way back down to the end of the line. One person started it and it ends up with everybody's paying everybody's coffee and just kind of like a nice gesture for the day. How powerful is that? And that's what God wants in the fasting and our fasting, that as we fast, it just doesn't benefit us, that it's the fasting that benefits everybody that comes in contact with us. So let's close this out in prayer. Heavenly Father. I thank you for your wisdom and guidance found in your word.

14:35 Teach us to fast according to your will, not just abstaining from food, but using our hands and hearts to serve others. Help us to loose the chains of injustice, lift the burdens of the oppressed, and bring healing to those in need. May our light shine brightly as we live out your love in tangible ways. In Jesus' name, amen. Oh, thank you again for joining me on Diary of Black Women. Remember, two fasting is about what you give, not just unto God, but to others. So let's step out boldly into the Isaiah 58 fast and watch how God transforms lives, including our own.

15:18 Until next time, stay blessed, stay focused, and let your faith lead the way. I want to continue here with the types of fasting, finding the right fast for your journey. And so fasting is not just a one size fit all. And there are many ways to approach this spiritual discipline, whether you're looking to detoxify your body, to grow spiritually, or to find a way to simplify and focus. Where their focus, there's a fasting method that aligns with your goals. So let's break down the 10 types of fasting and explore how each one can impact your life.

16:05 We understood the, just understood the power of fasting in Isaiah, but there's different ways. Introduction talks about just a water fast, but I want to take it a step further here and exploring different types of fasting so that you can feel comfortable with what, on what will work for you in 2025. In this January start to start the year off. So let's start out. We talked about the water fast, and this is a well-known, it's called a water fast. This is the most traditional form of fasting where you consume only water for a set period of time. Typically range from 24 hours to several days, but longer fasts require medical supervision.

16:51 Water fast is great for detoxification, spiritual clarity and physical cleansing considerations because it's so intense it's essential to approach this fast cautiously especially for extended periods always consult a healthier a healthcare professional before starting so that was the one i gave you an introduction i told you the extreme cases to do that you need to have a doctor to monitor you So I recommend that if you're only going to do that one, it's probably three days at the most, at the least, maybe 10 days at the most. So don't go diving into a 40-day water fast without medical professional assistance.

17:37 Now we have the partial fast, which is usually considered like the Daniel fast. The Daniel fast, it involves restricting certain foods or meals. Now, you can be on this fast, for example, consuming only fruits, vegetables, and water. This often lasts 21 days but can be adjusted. Partial fasting is easier to maintain than a water fast, and it helps improve health, focus, and spiritual discipline. So you won't get those extreme cases that I gave you in the introduction where you're lightheaded because you're still eating. If you have coffee You can't have the coffee You might have those coffee with caffeine withdrawals And sugar withdrawals But you won't And those might be the weaknesses But you won't have those extreme cases Like I told you in the first fast In the first episode Introductory episode It still requires intentionality and planning Especially when it comes to meal preparation So we see here As a partial fast It's a Daniel fast.

18:44 It can last, usually, a Daniel fast usually lasts up to 21 days. It's fruits, vegetables, and water. In the book of Daniel, he said he had vegetable pulp. So I don't even think he had any vegetables. I think he just kind of had like a, you know, like a, you know how they just, they grind it up and you drink it. So, hey. So intermediate fast is another fast that you can use. And intermediate alternates between periods of eating and fasting. Popular method includes a 16-hour, eight method where you don't eat for 16. I think, yeah, it's a weight where you fast for 16 hours and eat within that eight-hour window.

19:26 This can be practiced daily or weekly. It's great for weight management, improved metabolism, and mental clarity. It's flexible and can fit into almost any schedule, making it easier for beginners. So this might be a good one to start. You can do this one every day. You will fast for 16 hours and then you have an eight hour window to eat. You can eat whatever you want, but you got a 16 hour window of fasting. And that's a flexible one. Can you do that for 40 days? Either one is up to you. The most nutrition boost while fasting is a juice fast. This involves consuming only fresh juice, fruit, and vegetable juices.

20:09 This lasts about one to seven days. It provides hydration, detoxification, and high intake of nutrients. Make sure that the juices are fresh and not loaded with added sugar. Monitor your energy levels throughout the fast. So make sure you pay attention to that. So I just went over several fasting. We talk about the water fast, the partial fast, which is a Daniel fast, the intermediate fast, the juice fast. And then there's some more intense fasting options. For 40 days, we're not going to be doing any intense fasting options. So this is just for your educational purposes only.

20:50 Like the dry fast, the dry fast where you abstain from food and water. This is short term, ranging from 12 to 24 hours. It promotes detoxification and spiritual discipline. Dry fasting is highly challenging and should only be done for short periods with caution. So maybe once a week, you don't eat food or drink water. Maybe once a week. This is extreme. So dry fasting. Another one is, I think they call it extreme or more intense, is a soul fast. It's a soul fast focused on abstaining from distractions like social media, television, or other activities that consume your time and attention.

21:38 That can be part of your fast too. The duration varies on personal goals and need. It provides mental clarity, reduces stress, enhances your focus on spiritual growth. Identify specific areas to fast from and set clear boundaries to maximize the effect. So during a regular fast, maybe that's 16-8, intermediate fasts, that seem to be kind of a very easy one for beginners. During that 16 hour that you don't, maybe you decide I don't wanna do any more social media. Find a way, your goal is to get close to God, right? And so just fasting social media is not enough.

22:24 You need to cut out, do some food too because fasting does include absence of food. The social media is something new. People say, I'm just gonna fast social media. That's fine, but absence of food too. also brings spiritual awareness. And so make sure if you're going to fast social media, do not forget to do a fast of food too. You know, the goal is to get closer to God, right? So if you find yourself addicted to social media and you know who you are, you know if that's you, I'm going to turn that off for a while. Sometimes it's better just to delete the app and you don't have to even go to it. Just delete the app. All right. And then for that period and plug it back in because, you know, you're going to pick it up and not delete the app.

23:09 But, you know, it's so funny when you delete the apps and like you get emails saying you just got an alert and you have to delete the email, too. So that's going to take some discipline. But is it worth it to have a breakthrough? Is it worth it to get your jubilee blessings? Is it worth it to draw closer to God? I mean, that's the question you have to answer. Another one that happens during the first part of the year is corporate fast. This is a group fast where people come together for common purpose. It's often practiced within churches or faith communities. It can range from a single day to several weeks. It fosters community support, collective spiritual growth, and shared purposes.

23:53 Coordination and clear communication among participants are the key. Usually if you're having a corporate fast, there's instructions, there's scriptures. It comes with clear outline of what they want you to do on each day, how you support, and how you are in unity with that corporate fast. That's very powerful. But you can also on the side have your own scriptures too. You're partnering unity with your church, but you're also individual and you're partnering unity with God too. It's very powerful. There's also some specialized fasting approaches. One of them are alternate day fasting, where you involve alternate days or normal eating days of fasting, consuming low-calorie food.

24:43 So you might fast every other day, maybe three days a week. I mean, whatever works for you in this 40-day journey, it can be practiced long-term for specific periods. This method promotes weight loss, involves metabolic health, metabolic metabolic health and flexibility. Consistency can be challenging. So adjust based on your tolerance and health. The alternate day fasting, there's kind of a you can get an app to help you alert you to when to eat, when not to eat. And you can do that also with the intermediate fasting. Whatever your challenge is. If food is your challenge, then fasting might be a great option.

25:24 If you can go a day without eating and then go back and eat, it's just kind of managing what works for you. Another one, a number is extended fast. It's an extended fast that's more than three days, typically involving only water and minimal calories. We covered that one. It can last from several days to weeks. It's ideal for deep detoxification, spiritual breakthroughs, and significant health benefits. Extended fasting should always be done under medical supervision. Remember that medical supervision. And then we have the religious or spiritual fast. This type of fasting aligns with religious observation like Ramadan, Lent, or Yom Kippur.

26:06 The duration varies based on specific tradition or practice. It fosters spiritual growth, discipline, and community bonding. Follow the specific guidelines of your faith and tradition to ensure you honor its principles. But as you consider, make sure you choose the right fast for you because the goal is for you to be successful as you create this new relationship with God that you're making room for him. All that revolves is making room for him. And it's not about posting it on social media. This is what I'm doing. Why don't you join me? It's about what have you not done before?

26:47 I think it should be challenging. That's me. Something you've never done before. If you never deleted the app, social media app, that would be boom. That's going to be challenging for you. And spend that time that you usually spend scrolling, reading your Bible, listen to the word, download an audible app, a book, and read a book about Jesus. Do something that you've never done before so you can get a different result. But as you consider these fasting hours, remember that the best fast for you depends on your personal goals, health, and lifestyle. Remember, choosing a water fast, partial fast, or a soul fast is a key. The key is to approach it with prayer, intention, and with wisdom.

27:34 And I want to close it out with this section, with prayer. And I got one more section, and then that will be it for this time. This prayer section is, Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of fasting. In many ways, it draws us closer to you. Guide us as we choose the fasting method that aligns with your will for our lives. Help us to grow spiritually, strengthen our discipline, and use this time to glorify you. In Jesus' name, amen. The last part is going to be the goal of fasting according to Matthew 6.

28:17 I want to unpack Matthew 6, 16 to 18. So you have your Bible. I want to go to Matthew 6, 16 to 18 so that we can get to the heart of fasting, not just the practice itself, but the purpose behind it. What is the goal of fasting? What does Jesus teach us about the attitude that we should have when we fast? Today, we'll unpack the powerful lessons of Matthew 6, 16 through 18, where Jesus provides us with a clear guidance on the true spirit of fasting. This episode will challenge you to approach fasting with humility, sincerity, and an unwavering focus on God.

29:03 So you should be there by now, Matthew 6, 16 through 18. So when you fast, do not look sober as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting. But only your unseen father and your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Isn't that a beautiful reminder that the heart posture we should have while fasting.

29:46 Jesus calls us to fast, not for public recognition, but to deepen our relationship with God. It's not about looking spiritual to others. It's about being sincere before God. So the goals of fasting according to Matthew 6. The three main goals of fasting outlined in Matthew 6. First one is seek a deeper relationship with God. The ultimate goal of fasting is to draw closer to God. It's a time to seek his presence, hear his voice, and align your heart with his will. What's the action? It's to spend time in prayer, meditation, and reading scripture during your fast.

30:33 Use this time to focus on God and deepen your spiritual connection. Practice humility and sincerity. Fasting should be done with a humble heart, not to gain attention or approval, from others, but to honor God privately. Keep your fasting between you and God. Avoid outward display that draw attention to your sacrifice. Let your humility be reflected of your sincerity. And, you know, when you're fasting, the glow will come. Things are going to start to look different. People are going to notice.

31:14 They might say, you look like you're losing weight. You're glowing today. You just smile and say, thank you, you know, on what you're doing. You just smile. You don't have to go into any great detail. You just keep it moving because it's not for man, it's for God. And the best part is three, receive spiritual rewards. God promised to reward those who fast with pure motives. These rewards may not always be visible immediately, but they are spiritually significant and life transforming. Trust that God sees your effort and will bless you in ways that align with his perfect will and timing.

31:59 Remember, it's between you and the Lord. So what are the practical steps for fasting with the right heart? So how do we fast with the way Jesus describes? Here are four practical ways. Prepare your heart. Begin your fast with prayer. Ask God to purify your motives. Focus your heart on him and guide you throughout your prayer journey. You will need the Lord in this journey. Do not go out without him. Stay close to him during this prayer journey. And always keep your heart in check. Maintain privacy. Keep your fasting between you and God.

32:41 Unless it's necessary for accountability or support, avoid sharing your fasting experience with others. So what I do is I know when I'm going on an extreme fast, I share it with one of my closest friends because they're going to be the one that has to kind of like know. Someone needs to know that you're going to go on something extreme because that's why I always share it with one. And then I have a doctor's appointment and I'll share it with my doctor. So I share, I'm going on this fast and I want you to know that. And the doctor is going to make a big fuss. you need to do. They're going to make a fuss, but they'll tell you, check with me if things start to happen. Boom.

33:24 Because remember, they got to tell a med. So if you need something that's going on, you can check with your doctor. And the reason you tell it one friend, Because when you do something that's going to be something new, you are going to start to look different. You're going to start to lose weight. They're going to forget about it because they got their own life. But at least you know, excuse me. At least you know you told someone they're not going to be your, they're just accountable, but they're not going to be, don't tell someone that's going to be your babysitter. Tell someone who you know is spiritually strong, who I'm just telling you this so that you see looking too weak, I'm looking faint, that you check me, tell me to do something, pray for me.

34:06 But you don't want a babysitter. You want someone that can hold you up in prayer because they know you're about to go. You're about to break through. You don't want anybody to just, you don't want a babysitter. You get what I'm saying? You want someone to hold you accountable and for support, to pray. They say, you okay? Yeah, just pray because you know you can really go into a spiritual fight. Just pray. They might call you. You good? I'm good. Just pray, right? That's all you need. And number three, focus on spiritual growth. Use the time you usually spend eating to pray. Study scripture, seek God's presence. The intentional focus will help you experience spiritual breakthrough.

34:49 What I usually do during my fasting time, because you got all this time. Usually you're cooking or you're watching your videos or whatever you're normally doing. You can take this time. And I got this one book I want to read. It's called Confronting the Thief by Jane Hammond. And I said, I want to read that book, but I got it on audio. And I want to take notes because she's talking about how to get your stuff back. Isn't that a great topic for the year of Jubilee? How to get your stuff back. I was like, hey, let's go there. I spend my own special time in prayer. We got a church prayer coming up. So it's going to be a lot of support with all that prayer going on during that season.

35:32 So just remember that this is spiritual growth time. And then trust in God's reward. Believe that God sees your sincere effort and reward you according to his will. His reward may be spiritual clarity, strength in faith, or a deeper relationship with him. You know, God knows exactly what you need when you need it. And he knows how to come right on time. And it's just always powerful. And even when you're feeling weak, I would say if you're fasting and it's something that you're feeling weak, I will always say you bow, get on your knees and you bow before the Lord and you ask for his strength to help you, you know, because you're doing something new.

36:15 Don't ever think that you're doing it alone. Right. Fasting is a sacred practice that should always be rooted in humility and sincerity. When we fast with the right heart, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6, we unlock a deeper relationship with God and align ourselves with his divine purpose. Remember, it's not about public recognition. It's about private devotion. Your unseen father sees everything you do in secret. He will reward you openly in ways beyond what you can imagine. Isn't that what we want? We want God's reward. We want God's approval. And so don't do it for man's approval, because man is limited in what he can do.

37:00 If you do it for God's approval, it's always beyond what we can ask or think. So I want to close this out in prayer. Heavenly Father, I thank you for the wisdom and guidance found in your word. Teach us to fast with humility and sincerity, seeking to draw closer to you, Purify our motives, strengthen our spirit, and help us to trust in your promises. May our fasting honor you and deepen our relationship with you. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for joining me on this episode of Diary of a Black Woman. I hope this teaching inspired you to approach fasting with a renewed heart and purpose.

37:44 Until next time, stay humble and keep seeking God. Happy New Year. Let's get this started. I just can't wait to hear from you out there about what God is doing, what he has done. How he's giving you these surprise blessings in 2025. This is the first year that God has given me a download of what he wants to do. I usually get the word from my pastor, which I still do, but this is the first time he's given me instructions on what to do for this year, and I'm so excited.

38:29 I think he's done it because I have an audience that's listening, and so he wants to encourage you too. So let's just give him the praise and the glory, and I just look forward to just many, many blessings. Remember Isaiah 58, as you're fasting, do not forget to follow his guidelines, to give to the needy, to support, to advocate. And I just want to bless you. Have a great new year. Bye.