“Right Fasting Leads To Answered Prayer!”

“Right Fasting Leads To Answered Prayer!”(Is.58:1-9a).
Just on that first day of Lent we received the sad news of the death of a Divisional Officer, a Mayor and a few others, through an explosion. As if that wasn’t enough a young man was shot dead on his motorbike. He was merely trying to make an honest living with his bike.
The comments which follow these sad news are full of tearful emojis, and questions like,“God where are you?” How long are you going to wait until we are all dead?”
These horrible killings are going to continue right during the Lent Season even as we shall be praying and fasting.
Day after day we seek the Lord and seem eager to know his ways as if we are a nation that does what is right; as if we have not foresaken the commands of the Lord.
We have been asking and will ask all through Lent, “Lord why have we fasted and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?”
God has not noticed us because on the day of fasting we do as we please, exploiting all our workers, intimidating them to silence by threatening them to go to their workplaces or their salaries are terminated. Those very workplaces that are “no go zones for us.” Places where even when we dare to go, we go in amoured vehicles and dressed in chain armour!
Our fastings often end with quarelling and strife because we pronounce peace with our lips when our hearts are full of war!
The Lord is very clear on this:“You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.” We cannot continue to pretend to say that every thing is under control when there is mayhem all around us amidst rising death toll!
Fasting is not only a day for a man to humble himself, bowing one’s head like a reed and lying on sackcloth and ashes.
Fasting is that we address issues of injustices, excercise fairness, not being vengeful to boost our egos at the sufferings of others. Fasting is meaningful when we call for meaningful dialogue to address the crisis for which we are paying a heavy price.
Fasting is that all those who have fled to fortified cities should not threaten the lives of those who are in the danger zones. “What is good for the goose is good for the gander.” And if it is bad for the gander, then it is bad for the goose as well!
When we fast properly, our light will break forth like the dawn, our healing will come quickly and the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard.
“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: ‘Here am I.'”
My friend, begin from your own home and eliminate the small injustices that are within. Remember:“The world you long to transform is represented in your backyard.”
Prayer: Holy Spirit help us to practice a right fast so that the Lord will answer our cry for help. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang