The journey of life never ends on the mountain top or in the valley; it keeps moving forward. The caution of spiritual maturity reminds us that we should never seek to stay either on the mountain or in the valley. The Good Shepherd continues to lead us into new pastures, up steep inclines and even through other valleys of the shadow. It is our call to simply take hold of His hand and trust his leading. I think too often we trust the elations of the mountain top or the emotions of the valley and in those moments our hand slips from His.

As you conclude this 21 days and move into others recall to your mind what the Holy Spirit has spoken to you. Open your hands and allow the fresh outpouring of Holy Spirit water to pour over your soul and seep into the places that may still be dry. He wants you to become a garden, fruitful and abounding in the joy of restoration. He wants you to become someone who stands in the gap and is a restorer of the breach.

Jesus… today I take hold of your outstretched hand and allow my cadence to mach yours. Forgive me for walking too fast in my elation and too slow in my emotions. May your thoughts become my thoughts, your steps my steps, and your path my path. Lead me forward!

May God richly bless you, and thank you for taking this journey with me. Email me your thoughts at tim@leadersource.one and make sure to share this blog with others who need restoration.

“Those from among you will
rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.”

— Isaiah 58:12

Are you a repairer of the breach? Will you raise up the age-old foundations? What exactly does it mean to be a repairer of the breach?

Websters defines breach as a gap in the wall made by battering. It is the place where the enemy has broken through the city wall and entered to reek havoc. 

Early on, when the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt and found themselves rebelling against God’s plan for their life in a place called the desert, Moses stepped in on their behalf.

What had crumbled was Israel’s trust in God. They literally despised the pleasant land ahead of them and did not believe God’s word to them. They spent the day in their tents grumbling and complaining – relationship was breached, and here is what Moses did…

“Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, To turn away His wrath from destroying them.”
Psalm 106:23

Moses stood in the place, in the gap, in the breach, where everything had fallen apart. Rebellion had broken relationship. Hopelessness had more power than promise. The hope of new beginnings became overcast by a shadow of circumstances that said this is never going to happen. Somehow bondage was more comfortable that belief.

The enemy had pulled out the foundation stones that God had set, he battered their hope, the walls came down, and the enemy of their future rushed in. And yet Moses chose to stand in the breach and fight for the rebellious heart of his people.

“Paths that were once overrun by the whispered lies of enemy thieves are now turned to places of peace and rest.”

As you move toward wholeness and restoration, is there someone you know whose life has been breached by the siege of the enemy? Is there someone you know battered by life? Where is the breach you can stand in on someone’s behalf? How can you help someone else rebuild the broken down wall? What story from your life can you share that would give hope?

ACTION: Stand in the breach.

Mabye today’s action is found in the last part of this verse – to be a restorer of the paths to dwell in. These are not paths upon which they dwelt, but ones which lead to their homes – the places they dwelt.

The idea here is to restore the pathways of life so there is never again access for robbers and thieves. Paths that were once overrun by the whispered lies of enemy thieves are now turned to places of peace and rest.

The way in which you live your life and regulate your heart, mind, and emotions is such that the access areas the enemy used to breach your world have been shut off. One commentator put it this way, the walls are so high no robber could ever enter.

The ways in which you walk and the familiar pathways that lead to life must be restored, protected, and clear. Where you choose to dwell is as important as how you get to where you dwell. My pathway to life is not paved with a political view, a financial view, a prestigious way, for me it must be a spiritual way that is illuminated by the light of the Holy Spirit. 

“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, ‘Be gone!”  Isaiah 30:20-22 

“Those from among you will
rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.”

— Isaiah 58:12

“Perhaps somewhere in the sub-terranean chambers of your life you have heard the call to deeper, fuller living. You have become weary of frothy experiences and shallow teaching. Every now and then you have caught glimpses, hints of something more than you have known. Inwardly you long to launch out into the deep. ”

— Richard J. Foster

The footings of strength, honor, joy, celebration, life, family, the hustle and bustle of the marketplace, the fields where warriors were trained—these routines of life were all built over many generations. Israel walked away from God and rebelled by turning to the idols of their neighbors, the enticements of a world void of Yahweh, and all was lost… the walls were breached. The Babylonians invaded and burned the foundations of Israel to the ground…

“Ask me not where I live and what I like to eat. Ask me what I am living for and what I think is keeping me from living fully for that.”

— Thomas Merton

How do you raise up the age-old foundations and pursue a life that is fully alive?

First, have you cleared away the rubble during this season of prayer and restoration? Have you identified the leftover stones of shame and regret and discouragement—clear them off the foundation. Removed the yoke—those things that have weighed you down.

Next, have you firmed up the foundation of your heart and mind? Have you embraced your identity in Christ? Are you confident, by faith, that you are a new creation? Are you ready to rebuild renewed character, renewed relationship?

Restored hearts and minds become invigorated with the idea of building a new foundation for life, so where do you start?

Ask yourself what are the cornerstones of your life going to be? If you were to pick four immovable stones upon which to build your life – start over, start fresh, what would they be? Have you ever thought about it?

ACTION: Take time today to pray for four foundational stones you will choose to be immovable, uncompromised–the life philosophy upon which you will build your future.

Spiritual disciplines – prayer, fasting, worship, sabbatical, stewardship, fellowship?

Uncompromised devotional time

Regular silence and solitude

Truth and honesty without compromise?

Personal reflection and meditation

Serve God in everything, not self

Worship over worry

God’s Word over the World

Daily pursue better physical health

You have been called to rebuild. You are being called to raise up the original foundations intended by your Creator to give you life and power for living.

Here is my only caution when speaking like this.

Don’t make this rebuilding an exercise in human wisdom and desire. It is all too easy to carve foundational stones that sound good to the world but lack integral strength in the face of eternity.

As you pursue this task, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in your choices. Maybe it’s three stones, maybe it’s five, but keep the count small so the impact is large. It is easier to do a few things well than many things poorly. 

“Those from among you will
rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.”

— Isaiah 58:12

God is restoring you, and you can become a restorer of others. 

“Who among you will help rebuild the ancient ruins? Who will raise up the age-old foundations?”

Ancient ruins were the result of the kingdom’s enemy coming in and destroying what was once a place of beauty, life, family, order, and commerce.

Imagine with me there was a foundation upon which was built an original masterpiece called you, created by God in heaven before you were born. This home is the truest sense of you. But sin, time, decisions by you and by others had broken down that beautiful creation. Those original God-foundations have crumbled. God’s intent for your life had been derailed.

The same could be said of everyone of us. BUT… slowly, brick by brick, your life is rebuilt and restored. Choice by difficult choice, you are becoming healthy again. The scorched earth and broken-down walls are finding life. God is pouring supernatural water upon you, and a garden is growing. God is giving your bones nourishment and strength. Life is beginning to look and feel like it should. It’s not all perfect, but you are being rebuilt. 

You are discovering who God has created you to be – that original masterpiece is coming back into focus. This is what God desires.

Remember, as we have worked through this passage of scripture, that there is more going on than just what God is doing in you. A fast for restoration has much to do with extending your soul to touch the lives of others. 

“Those among you will rebuild the ancient ruins and raise up the age-old foundations.”

The re-built become the builders.

The restored become the restorers.

The healed become the healers.

The brought low becomes the ones who raise up.

Is there someone you know who needs the restoration you are experiencing? Even if all has not been restored, it’s time to become a restorer—a rebuilder. None of us can do the rebuilding alone. You have something deeply profound to offer others. Your action for today is to write down the name of someone you know then pray about reaching out to them to offer healing through a genuine growing relationship.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”

— Isaiah 58:11

God wants to give strength to your bones. What exactly does this mean and how does it apply to your life?

Your bones are the structure upon which your body lives. Life literally comes from your bones. Blood is life. It is in your bones that blood is created. The marrow in your bones is critical to your immune system. God is saying He will strength the deep places within you where life is produced, and where immunity against the ills of life is created.

The imagery an Israelite would quickly see in the words “He will strengthen…” is that of being girded or equipped for war. This is the kind of strengthening God wants to give you. He wants you to war, so you can win. This is a strength that wins over oppression, worry, and exhaustion. How do we overcome? We overcome, not only by the blood of the Lamb and the word our testimony (Revelation 12:11), but we win because somewhere deep within us God has created a spring of life. The will to win takes over because the core of your identity has been transformed by knowing and loving your Savior. Isaiah beautifully introduces us to this  “Behold; God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. Therefore you will joyously draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:2, 3

“Not only will God strengthen what gives you life—your bones, He will equip you for the war you are in”

Not only will God strengthen what gives you life—your bones, He will equip you for the war you are in. God will strengthen you to go back to those places once scorched with fire and retake the territory the enemy meant to destroy.

As you read this next scripture, keep in mind what place this message speaks into:

“Do not remember (dwell or keep calling to mind) the former things, Or ponder (give your full attention to) the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing. Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, (an economy of life), rivers in the desert, (life that pours over a barren place), the beasts of the field will honor Me, jackals and ostriches, because I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. The people whom I formed for Myself (God has not made you for the world, but for himself) will make known My praise.” Isaiah 43:18, 19

Today is a day to praise God. Today is a day to believe again.

God’s plan for you is to heal what was scorched, to open a heavenly spring of life, to strengthen your bones for health and for war, to water a barren place so much so that a lush garden begins to grow. God wants to give life, beauty, fruit, and supply for those who come in and out of your life.

I will give strength to your bones;

And you will be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

“And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”

— Isaiah 58:11

Today we come to a portion of our passage that becomes incredibly personal. This is about you. This is about now. This is about restoration for you. Read this slowly and listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit as you read.

And the Lord will continually guide you,

And satisfy your desire in scorched places…

A scorched place is a barren place. It is a place where something once thrived and grew but has been burnt to the ground. A scorched place is a place where life has been aggressively wiped away, hope has been dashed, and the future razed to the ground. 

“It is God’s desire to satisfy your desire in the most broken and barren place of your past or present.”

There is an historical military philosophy called the “scorched-earth” policy. This is a policy where the military comes into an area and burns and destroys everything of value; crops that supplied food, the water supply is poisoned, livestock killed, and with it food and an economy and much more. No one can live in a place like that.

How can desire be satisfied in a place like that? 

If you apply this to your life, there is no greater message then this. 

Where have you been scorched? In what area of your life did fire fall and life get stripped away? This is a place where life and hope once thrived and gave you strength for your day, but now there is nothing but scorched earth. A bomb was dropped. A sickening truth revealed.  A lie told. A deception perpetrated. A betrayal that devastated. What event or moment in your past has left you barren and empty? Where is that place you need restoration?

Listen carefully. In that place, that scorched place, what is your deepest desire? What is your greatest need? What has been lost that you need restored? 

ACTION: What is your desire in the aftermath of destruction? Write down your desire – it’s ok. Scripture teaches us that if you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desire of your heart.

It isn’t easy to find any delight in scored places, but notice it is not delight in circumstances – it is delight in the Lord. 

It is into that place where the creative breath of God will breathe today. It is God’s desire to satisfy your desire in the most broken and barren place of your past or present. God will give strength to your bones and transform that wasteland into a well watered garden whose waters will never fail. Trust him.

“And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”

— Isaiah 58:11

When your heart and motivation are in the right place, and when the reason for your fast is less about your expectation and more about God’s impartation, He will continually guide you.

He will guide you on your path to freedom.

He will walk with you on your path to restoration.

He will lead you on your path to wholeness.

Your guide must be God. Your guide must be the Way-maker. The One who, before the foundations of the earth, prepared a pathway for you to walk upon (Ephesians 2:10).

God speaks these beautiful and instructive words through the prophet Jeremiah when He says,

“Thus says the LORD: Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”

— Jeremiah 6:16

Do not seek the newest trend, the newest philosophy, the latest fad. God says, “Ask about the ancient pathways where there is always good… then walk in that way and you will find rest for your soul.”

What is the ancient pathway? God calls His people to stand at the gate and ask the wise sages about the old ways of living a life that pleases Him. These are the everlasting paths God laid down from the beginning of time – paths that are pleasant and pleasing. 

It is God’s desire to lead you in the way everlasting. But to be refreshed and restored, you have to make a concerted and a purposeful decision to seek out the ancient path that God would lead you down. If you want your life to change, you have to choose to change through action.

What is that path for you?

The path of prayer?

The path of worship?

The path of devotion?

The path of surrender?

The path of discipline?

The path of forgiveness

The path of selfless living?

The path of being still and listening?

In your action box write your response to this question. What path are you seeking today?

“And if you give yourself to the hungry
(If you draw out your soul)
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.”

— Isaiah 58:10

I love the first rays of sun that creep over the canyons and tree tops when I’m out camping in the wilderness. It’s usually cool, and the sun’s warmth brings comfort from the crisp night; it brings anticipation of adventures that await.

The power and properties of light are seen throughout scripture. In Genesis God created the light. The temple was given the lampstand of light. When Matthew speaks of Jesus’ birth, he says, “the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” Mathew 4:16

The New Testament priest Zechariah gives us a beautiful picture of Jesus as a sunrise that gives light, “because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79

Jesus himself said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus’ very nature is to dispel darkness, to be the light of the world, to illuminate the pathway in front of us. I can think of times in my life when I felt like I was in the midst of darkness, pulled into the gloom of hopelessness and hurt. More than ever I needed the light of Jesus to guide my way toward peace and warm the cold nights of failure and disappointment. 

Here is my challenge to you. As Jesus lifts the gloom from your life, and as freedom comes in like the light of a new morning cresting the canyons, let it fill every space of darkness in your life. Let His light become your light. Ask for it even now as you read this.

Today’s reading says, “Then your light will rise in the darkness…”

Even when you are in the midst of a dark place, God’s promise is clear. Your light will rise in a place where there is no light. Choose not to focus on the night, and instead focus on the light. 

“Imagine every action God has worked in your life as a single particle of light that gathers with all of the other moments of grace, love, and forgiveness to ignite a light that is undeniable.”

Imagine every action God has worked in your life as a single particle of light that gathers with all of the other moments of grace, love, and forgiveness to ignite a light that is undeniable. Invite God-given strength to rise within you and lift your heart to a better place; a light that others see as a witness to the transformative work of God in your life. Transformative because our scripture tells us our gloom will become like the midday. The thing that brought calamity and pulled you into your gloom WILL be transformed into the brightness of the mid day.

“And if you give yourself to the hungry
(If you draw out your soul)
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.”

— Isaiah 58:10

As we work through this passage in Isaiah 58 I’m reminded that the context is God’s challenge to a heart attitude that is amiss. It is amiss because Israel’s expectations of God are found in religion and ceremony. 

Their expectations of God are exactly that— an “I expect…” attitude. It is an expectation of God rooted in what one should get. While this scripture is filled with personal action on an internal level, God turns our attention away from ourself toward those in need.

Loosen the bonds of others.

Share your bread with the hungry.

Clothe the naked.

Stop pointing your finger at others.

Turn from your desires and meet the desperate needs of others.

Transformation and freedom are released as we surrender to God while giving to others.

Jesus gives us the most profound reality of reaching out when He talks about the day we will all face:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:34-40

Who are those in your life that you might consider afflicted? This word afflicted refers to those who are thwarted, frustrated, bowed down, put down, imprisoned by other’s actions, desperate and alone. What do these afflicted people need? What is it that you have that can meet that need? What will you do this week when you see those needs? “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” 

“And if you give yourself to the hungry (If you draw out your soul)
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.”

— Isaiah 58:10

God is giving us a second “if.” The first one was in the last verse “if you remove the yoke from your midst...” (v. 9). This if is much more personal and honestly one I need more time to apply to my life.

God says, “if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted… then.”

The Hebrew here is napse meaning throat, neck, breath, living being or soul. God is pressing us to give our heart, our very breath to those who need breath. It feels deeply powerful and deeply challenging. I’m not there. 

To satisfy the desire of the afflicted is a follow through on our risk. Desire of the afflicted is a word phrase akin to napse and sounds similar, nepes, which means nearly the same thing as soul. 

“God is pressing us to give our heart, our very breath to those who need breath.”

It is as if God is saying the desire and satisfaction that the afflicted seek needs to become our own at the deepest level of whom we are – our breath, our soul.

The afflicted are those who are bowed down, hunched down, and afflicted. These are the people who are filled when God’s people give themselves freely and offer food, hope, encouragement and a real connection of community. It’s not a turkey drive at Thanksgiving, or Christmas dinner baskets that come around once-a-year. For our light to rise, healing to come, and the yoke to be broken we must go beyond our need and satisfy the soul and desire of those who are afflicted.

Verse ten is a repeat of verse seven because we need to hear it again. 

I re-read this verse in a variety of translations, but none give it the weight it deserves. It is a profound ask that God is bringing. God’s heart is so passionately drawn to the afflicted, the broken, and the destitute. Jesus came to release the oppressed from their prison, to give sight to the blind, to touch the lame, and open the mouths of the mute. In a word,  Jesus breathes freedom, and the breath of His Spirit lives within us. How is your breathing?

Father, may our heart be bound to the hearts of those who are truly afflicted and broken. 

“And if you give yourself to the hungry (If you draw out your soul)
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.”

— Isaiah 58:10

God is giving us a second “if.” The first one was in the last verse “if you remove the yoke from your midst...” (v. 9). This if is much more personal and honestly one I need more time to apply to my life.

God says, “if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted… then.”

The Hebrew here is napse meaning throat, neck, breath, living being or soul. God is pressing us to give our heart, our very breath to those who need breath; to stick our neck out. It feels deeply powerful and deeply challenging. I’m not there. 

To satisfy the desire of the afflicted is to follow through and risk. Desire of the afflicted is a word phrase akin to napse and sounds similar. Nepes, means nearly the same thing as soul. 

“God is pressing us to give our heart, our very breath to those who need breath.”

It is as if God is saying the desire and satisfaction that the afflicted seek needs to become our own at the deepest level of whom we are – our very breath and soul.

The afflicted are those who are bowed down, or hunched down. These are the people who are filled when God’s people give themselves freely and offer food, hope, encouragement and a real connection of community. It’s not a turkey drive at Thanksgiving, or Christmas dinner baskets that come around once a year. For our light to rise, healing to come, and the yoke to be broken we must go beyond our need and satisfy the soul and desire of those who are afflicted.

Verse ten is a repeat of verse seven because we need to hear it again. 

I re-read this verse in a variety of translations, but none give it the weight it deserves. It is a profound ask that God is bringing. God’s heart is so passionately drawn to the afflicted, the broken, and the destitute. Jesus came to release the oppressed from their prison, to give sight to the blind, to touch the lame, and open the mouths of the mute. In a word, Jesus breathes freedom, and the breath of His Spirit lives within us. How is your breathing?

Father, may our heart be bound to the hearts of those who are truly afflicted and broken. 

“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst,The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness.”

— Isaiah 58:9

In verses nine through ten Isaiah is circling back to the actions God requires for a breakthrough. The imagery of the yoke is that of a “carrying bar” set on your shoulders. 

Remove the yoke. I image History Channel episodes depicting the slaves of Egypt with yoke bars across their backs, or a glimpse into the lives of people living in third world countries where carrying water for long distances is a common practice.

Since day one of this fast, have you picked up a burden you once laid down? Is there some new burden or an area of your life where God has revealed the need for fresh surrender? Whatever is weighing you down, lay it down, give it up again, relinquish control to Jesus and remove that yoke!

“Pull back your pointing finger, quiet negative words, and seek to exercise personal reflection and words that heal.”

Stop pointing fingers. In the ancient world the pointing of the finger involved a formal accusation, the gesture of a curse or malevolent slander. In today’s cancel culture and contentious social media environment, have you ever found yourself joining the crowd? Do you struggle with gossip or combative conversations in person or Online?

These struggles keep us bound – we carry offenses that keep us from freedom because we are too quick to point the finger of accusation. Our mind can become so consumed with negativity, defensiveness, and righteous opinions that we completely miss the opportunity to be the voice of Jesus to a hurting world. We lose the common ground that brings us together in moments when true, grace-seasoned dialog can begin.

ACTION: My challenge is to pull back your pointing finger, quiet negative words, and seek to exercise personal reflection and words that heal. These choices are the things God requires for a breakthrough. 

“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness.”

— Isaiah 58:9

As you read this part of verse nine, allow the word “will” to stand out. You will cry and He will say… It is a guarantee that you will cry out to God because of the travails of life, but it is equally guaranteed that God will say, “Here I am.”

Do you need to cry out to God because of a deep need or hurt in your life? 

When praying, I believe we need to do less talking and more listening, but there are certainly times when crying out to God is the first and right thing to do. 

When my kids were younger, I expected them to cry out for Dad. In fact, I’m sure there were many times when I would ask them, “Why didn’t you tell me this was going on?” The point is, God expects us and wants us to cry out to Him.

“Set securely in the mind of God is His desire to say, ‘Here I am.’”

Set securely in the mind of God is His desire to say, “Here I am.” 

In the pain welling up behind your cry, God says, “Here I am.”

In the midst of fear, God says, “Here I am.”

When you worry, God says, “Here I am.”

In days of depression, God says, “Here I am.”

When terrible news stops you in your tracks, God says, “Here I am.”

When you feel rejected, God says, “Here I am.”

When you have done everything and nothing seems to change, God says, “Here I am.”

When you want to hide and run, God says, “Here I am.”

When what you thought would be the best turned into the worst, God says, “Here I am.”

Here I am equals his peaceful presence. Here I am means you are sheltered in the rock that never moves. Here I am means you are not alone. Here I am means the creator of the world is on your side. Here I am means the battle is His to command. Can you hear Him? Listen for His reassurance!

What space in your heart and mind does God need to occupy? Invite him in and listen to Him say, “Here I am.”

“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness.”

— Isaiah 58:9

When you have surrendered all to Jesus, you can call and the Lord will answer! This verse states, “When you call, or then you will call…” The word “call” carries with it the idea of an invitation. You will call out and invite God into your circumstances.

There have been many times in my life when it felt like God was silent. I called, but no answer. I cried out but did not hear His voice say, “Here I am.” Have you ever felt like that? Does God’s silence mean he isn’t listening? Does God’s silence mean he is not at work? Often God’s silence is less about God and more about us. God is waiting for us to get serious and press into His presence. 

Don’t miss the word “then…” at the beginning of verse nine. Something has come before your call and God’s answer. The manifest presence of God does not arrive because we have been distant, lost in our own trouble and throw up a Hail Mary prayer. God is not a cosmic vending machine where we slide in a last minute prayer and out pops a tasty answer that fulfills our desire.

“We want God’s investment in our daily life, but we struggle to invest our daily life in Him.”

We want God’s investment in our daily life, but we struggle to invest our daily life in Him. God does not desire religion; He desires a broken and contrite heart; a heart that walks in obedience and pursues Him. 

This way of understanding God is what we see revealed in Samuel’s response when Saul dismisses God’s ordinances, “But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22

What do you still need to submit to God? Are you walking in complete obedience? Has God spoken and you have yet to obey? Put action to your belief. Take 10 minutes for a moment of isolated prayer – make sure there is no distraction. Pray… listen… invite God into every worry, every concern, every point of stress or anxiety – cast your cares on him, call out, cry out and He will hear.

“Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

— Isaiah 58:8

We have a hard time considering our own righteousness. Because we know how badly we have blown it in life, the idea that there is good within us feels too bold and presumptuous. But the righteousness of this verse is not something manufactured by the clever inventions of your own imagination and goodness. This righteousness is a right-ness of living birthed out of the surrender of your will and emotions to your Creator. 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

— Ephesians 2:10

This is the Master Craftsman Ephesians speaks about as creating within us something good; something He intended for us to walk in from the time we were born (Ephesians 2:10). In this verse, notice the words “walk in.” Walking requires a path; a direction to go. When you are walking by the Spirit on the path God prepared for you long ago, by definition you are walking in righteousness. When you are living rightly as God intends, you are led forward by the light of health and truth, aligned with the heart of God. Worry, fear, anxiety; a bound up soul that once dominated your thinking, no longer leads you. Your thinking has been transformed to a new pattern; a new pathway – walk in it with confidence and boldness!

A righteous path will show the way, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard! A rear guard is a sentry posted at your back. Why does God’s glory cover our rear guard? When familiar struggles and temptations rise in front of us we are quick to look to our past. In doing so, we become obsessed with our past failures. We easily return to the old patterns left behind. The familiar habits of the past provide a deceptive comfort. If what you see when you turn around is the glory of God, it changes your motivation and keeps you moving forward. You see the glory of what God has done; the glory of how God has changed you; the glory of how God defines you and the glory of how God is transforming you. Oh how glorious God is and how secure your future before you! Be emboldened in your strides forward. 

Be led by the righteousness before you – that pathway God has already laid down for you, and if ever you find yourself looking behind you for the way, instead see the glory and presence of Jesus, then turn forward and press onward.

“Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

— Isaiah 58:8

Verse eight states “your recovery will speedily spring forth.” The NIV says, “your healing will quickly appear.” I wonder if recovery and healing linger unfulfilled because we are bound to looking at the cycle of our problems alone. I wonder if a new day is long coming because we are too focused inwardly and rarely sow the seeds of hope into others who have none. 

“It is God who measures out the length of the bandage, pours healing oils upon it and wraps our pain with his healing touch.”

The Hebrew word here for healing refers to a long bandage surgeon use to wrap a wound. The word hearkens back to Isaiah’s earlier words that identify the pain of Israel’s past rebellions, “Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil” Isaiah 1:5, 6.

Isaiah’s words here are incredibly profound. He doesn’t hesitate to dig deep; to draw out what we must be honest about. Isaiah includes the entirety of whom we are–from our mind and how we think, to our heart and how we feel. He says there is no “soundness only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil.” 

But Isaiah doesn’t leave us in our pain… In fact, it is God’s will that your woundedness be healed. It is God who measures out the length of the bandage, pours healing oils upon it and wraps our pain with his healing touch. 

By faith believe your mind and afflicted heart are being healed! A soundness of life is returning. The healing you believed would take forever is beginning to happen. As you walk through this fast, believe this is God’s promise through Isaiah. Pursue the challenges of verses six through seven and begin to claim verse eight! 

“Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

— Isaiah 58:8

Don’t miss the word “then” at the beginning of this verse. Your light will break out like the dawn after you have broken the things that bind you and given to those who are bound. Freedom is never meant to be kept; it is meant to given, and once given there is a new breakout of light in our life. 

Darkness is overcome by the dawning of light. The cold of the night washed away by the warmth of a new day. The long silence of sleep awoken by the rays of morning light.

Whose light is Isaiah speaking about? When is this light revealed? “Then your light will break out like the dawn.” This is not the light of God, but your light. Certainly God’s light will shine through us, but in a real sense there is birthed within us light. 

“Your life is meant to shine in a world of darkness. As you begin to experience restoration, yours is the light of new things, a light of freedom”

Your life is meant to shine in a world of darkness. As you begin to experience restoration, yours is the light of new things, a light of freedom, a light that illuminates peace in the midst of the struggle, a light partnered with the warmth of hope spoken through you. This light breaks out light like the dawn. 

I love the dawn. I love the early morning hours of a new day. We have little sparrows that live in the tree just outside of our bedroom window, and in the early morning I can hear them sing their morning song. The darkness of night fades and the light of a new dawn enters the world to the sound of song. 

Interestingly, the world itself doesn’t change, rather the light simply washes over what is present. Your circumstances from one day to another may not change much, but at the dawn of a new day and the breaking forth of light, you can choose to see the hope and beauty that God has created and placed within you. God has already created the day. He knows what you will face and the challenges that will come. A huge part of restoration is setting your heart, mind, and emotions into the hands of God who, with a single word, created the light.

“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”

— Isaiah 58:7

When I was a middle school teacher I would watch children shuffle down the hall in front of my classroom. Some were well dressed, but most wore well-used and often dirty clothes. It is almost a surety you live near an elementary or middle school. If you stop by the office and talk with the secretary, I can almost guarantee they know of children who need a coat for the winter, clothes for the summer or new shoes to replace those worn through. Is there a homeless shelter where you could connect and provide needed clothes? 

ACTION: Jot down your plan to clothe someone in need.

Next, take time to review. Think back over the past few days and ask yourself if you have put action to what the Holy Spirit has impressed into heart.

Day 1: Loosed from Injustice. Identify any injustice done to you and surrender that pain at the cross. Speak to that injustice and loose it from your mind and emotions. Is anything still clinging to your mind?

Day 2: Unbind the Yoke of Control. Identify any yoke others, including the Devil, have placed on you. What cinched down lies need to be unbuckled, loosened, and tossed aside?

Day 3: Freedom from Oppression. Take authority over oppression. Make a list and then speak the name of Jesus (out loud) over oppression. Declare to yourself and your past that those lies and deceptions are broken.

Day 4: Give. Did you identify someone you could give to? Who can you give food, give encouragement, give your talents to?

Day 5: Bring. Is there someone in your life you can invite into your space, your world, and offer them some hope?

Your call today is to put action to these ideas and commit to clothe the naked. The last part of this verse speaks to your family – your own flesh and blood. Is there someone in your immediate family who is in need? Even if there is tension, an act of compassion may be the thing that draws you together in a new and blessed way. 

“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”

— Isaiah 58:7

The kind of fast God is asking for is one where we bring the homeless poor into the house—to provide a place of safety and security. 

This request of God is a challenge to our comfort and security. Our home is our sanctuary. Our home contains all that is precious to us, but remember every soul is eternally precious to God. This request takes prayer and discernment. Maybe the person you gave food to is the one to invite into your home to serve a meal to. Talk with them and hear their story. Allow the compassion of Jesus to pour over your heart and flavor your speech. Eat with them, for this day is not a fast of food but a fast of comfort and ease. 

The Hebrew word for homeless, in this passage, finds deeper understanding in the idea of restlessness, straying, or wandering. A heart can be homeless. Consider an orphan, a refugee as homeless. 

Sincerely, take time and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the deep needs of those in your daily world. Could there be one person who is lost, seeking, alone? Is there someone you know who is a wanderer through life? Is there someone at work you know who seems isolated and without family or friends? 

It is too easy in our culture to remain in a safe space. We have our home, apartment, our place of rest – that’s good. We go to and from work, or church, or our usual grocery store. If we are not careful we build a world that avoids the homeless. We can avoid, give up our comfort, or withhold our time, in spaces where desperation is on display. 

“Allow the compassion of Jesus to pour over your heart and flavor your speech.”

“Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ So they called to the blind man, ‘Cheer up! On your feet He’s calling you.’” Mark 10:46-52

The most pressing purpose Jesus had was His journey to the cross. But on the way he stopped for a homeless wanderer; the man who had nothing but the ragged clothes on his back and Jesus invited him into a place called freedom.

Challenge yourself to look and listen. It is easy to keep walking and avoid the issues crying out all around you. Is there someone in your life you can invite into your space, your world, and offer them hope?

“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”

— Isaiah 58:7

The fast God is calling for is one of freedom, but it is also one of giving. Notice how this verse is deeply personal. This verse pushes into our comfort and presses us to divide what we have and give to those who have not. When we divide, God multiplies, but it must begin with us. 

While this verse is certainly literal, consider that bread represents the means and ability you have to supply nourishment; it is God’s truth that gives life and sustenance. Consider those who are hungry are those who lack the bread of truth and encouragement – all that results in life. 

Notice what John records in John 6:26 “Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’”

“Consider those who are hungry are those who lack the bread of truth and encouragement”

ACTION: Two-part challenge. On this day, my challenge to you is to pray that God shows you someone to whom you can give food. Your church may know of a family in need. You may live near a neighborhood where folks are poor. A bag of groceries is a small price to pay to bless others. Because you are fasting, it means you are not spending money on the food you would normally eat. Whatever you spend, spend it on someone else! When you find that person, make sure to get their name and a way of getting a hold of them later. 

Instead of food, consider giving your talent to clean a yard, trim a tree, install smoke detector batteries, mend a fence, cook a meal, invite neighborhood kids over for a play date with your kids, and the list goes on. 

Finally, consider bringing a word of encouragement that releases life; a point of gratitude that lets someone know they are appreciated. Words are life – give life.

Take time today to pray about how you can give and then DO IT!