Psalms 20:1-4, and 31:1-4

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Isiah 58. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verses 10-14:

Isaiah 58:10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

Isaiah 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Isaiah 58:13 ¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

Isaiah 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

There are so many great promises God makes to us in this chapter: adding verses 8-9, we start with your light will break forth as the morning (Matthew 5:14; see also v. 10b—your light will rise in obscurity, making our dark days bright like the noonday). His blessings continue with your health springing forth speedily (v. 8a) (extending to our righteousness going before us, and the glory of the LORD watching our -6) (v. 8b).

We are promised that when we call, He will answer, when we cry, He shall say, “Here I am” (v. 9).

He promises that the LORD will be your guide, satisfying your soul in drought, making your bones fat (healthy and strong), like a watered garden, and a spring that never fails (v/ 11).

He adds that those that be of you, who identify with you, and follow you, will build the old waste places, and restore the foundations of many generations to come (v. 12a). Together, those who are your companions and posterity will be called “The repairer of the breach. The restorer of paths to dwell in” (v. 12b).

Finally, you will “ride upon the high places of the earth,” and be fed with “the heritage of Jacob” (v. 14).

The promised blessings are so full and overflowing.

Along the still waters, I meditated on what God looks for in us that moves Him to release into our lives these blessings.

It all follows from a proper fast, described in Isaiah 58:1-7. But they are canceled by hypocritical, superficial, heartless, performative righteousness, which He despises (Isaiah 58:1-5).

He looks for a humble heart that is responsive to His heart, that loosens the oppressive bands of wickedness, that relieves heavy burdens, that sets the oppressed free, that breaks every yoke Satan has set upon others (Luke 13:16; see v. 9—cast out of your midst the yoke of bondage). Genuine, authentic righteousness extends relief to the hungry and extends hospitality to the poor, clothes the naked, and ministers to your own family, household, and people (1 Timothy 5:8; see v. 10a).

Furthermore, our Heavenly Father would have you refrain from joining the accuser: “take away … the putting forth of the finger,” and from “speaking vanity” (v. 10b).

Regarding your religious service: honor the sabbath, “turn away [your] foot from … doing [your] pleasure on His “holy day,” and regard His day to be your delight” (v. 13a).*

These are the blessings of a proper fast.

In the valley, He Who fasted 40 days and nights, and lived a life perfectly exemplifying all that describes a proper fast, spoke to me the fundamental thing that draws God’s favorable attention: “Let this mind be in you,” Jerry (Philippians 2:5-11). And, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed closely as we went together into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v79v1i4-shepherds-pasture.html

[* Regarding the sabbath, consider the following: Matthew 12:1-12 (not observed according to the distortions of the Pharisees); Colossians 2:13-17 (not observed according to the Mosaic Law); Hebrews 4:1-11 (our “rest” (sabbath) is fulfilled in Christ Jesus); Romans 14:4-6 (observed according to the dictates of one’s cleansed conscience (Acts 24:16; 1 Timothy 1:5; 3:9; Hebrews 9:14; 10:22).

Nevertheless, the principle of honoring the Lord’s Sabbath, with all the above in mind and heart, may be applied to our observance of the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10; Hebrews 10:25). Setting aside a day to rest in Him, “not doing [our] own ways, nor finding [our] own pleasure, nor speaking [our] own words,” but setting ourselves apart to GOD to focus on Him and His word.]