144. Light, Health, Righteousness, Glory
Isaiah 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.
The condition for this promise in Isaiah 58 is fasting, but the fasting includes a sincere repentance. Fasting is not ritualistic manipulation in prayer getting God to do something. Fasting involves repentance for sin and for neglect of doing good, and it involves a sincere seeking of the Lord by faith, When repentance and faith in the Gospel are properly fulfilled with the aid of prayer and fasting, then the promises promised will come into effect. Fasting implies hunger and thirst for righteousness, humbling and crucifying the self, and asking in faith for the Holy Spirit to fill the empty places in the soul.
Prayer and fasting signifies praying the Lord’s Prayer, which asks: “Make me better.” Or, as Jesus says: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Then these four promises will come in answer: 1) your light will break forth, 2) your health will spring forth, 3) your righteousness will go before you, and, 4) the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. These blessings do not come as a direct result of prayer and fasting, for these blessings and promises are the spiritual things that God already has waiting for you and yearns to give. He just has no room in a self-centered, prideful soul to pour in the Spirit and His accompanying blessings. Make room!
Pray the Lord’s Prayer with sincere meaning, with repentance and faith, with an emptying of self and a making room for God. Your light will break forth from your eyes and countenance, as it will be God’s love in evidence. Your health will spring forth from a soul that is put together with the love of God, your righteousness will be in front of your life as you go through the world, and behind you God will have your back. Think about it: these spiritual blessings are really awesome. God chooses this kind of fast: He wants to break the yoke and bondage to Sin and Death through the power of the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins. And He will; just ask.