18 Oct 2026
Episode 456: Isaiah 58 - Fasting a Delight?
Questions to Consider
Why does the Lord ask us to fast, and what makes a fast truly meaningful?
How can fasting and prayer help us look beyond ourselves and recognize the needs of others?
What burdens, struggles, or limitations might the Lord help us overcome through fasting?
Are there times when our emotions or expectations prevent us from seeing opportunities to serve and build relationships?
What would change in our lives if we approached fasting as an opportunity for joy, charity, and greater discipleship?
Episode Summary
As we conclude our study of Isaiah, we turn to one of the most practical and powerful chapters in all of scripture: Isaiah 58. Throughout his writings, Isaiah testifies of Jesus Christ, calls Israel to repentance, and reminds us that the Lord stands ready to redeem those who turn to Him. In chapter 58, Isaiah teaches us something particularly meaningful: how fasting can become a tangible expression of our worship and discipleship.
The Lord asks a profound question: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen?" He then describes a fast that goes far beyond abstaining from food and water. True fasting helps us loose the bands of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, free the oppressed, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for those in need.
In this episode, we explore how fasting, accompanied by sincere prayer, helps us become more spiritually aware, seek the Lord's guidance, and turn our attention outward. We discuss the beauty of fast offerings, the joy of fasting as a family, and the remarkable promises the Lord extends to those who fast with righteous intent. Among those promises is one of the most comforting declarations in scripture: "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am."
We also connect Isaiah's teachings to Matthew 25, Mosiah 18, and Doctrine and Covenants 59, discovering how fasting relates to our baptismal covenants, our responsibility to bear one another's burdens, and our opportunity to find joy in worshiping the Lord.
Through a few personal experiences, including some humorous and humbling moments in traffic, we consider how easily we can become trapped in our own expectations, emotions, and limited perspectives. Sometimes we become so focused on where we think we need to go that we miss opportunities to connect with others and experience something wonderful. Fasting can help us step outside ourselves, broaden our perspective, and become more receptive to the influence of the Holy Ghost.
Ultimately, Isaiah 58 invites us to consider not simply whether we fast, but why we fast and who we become because of it. When we choose to fast with the intent to bless others, lift burdens, strengthen relationships, and draw closer to Jesus Christ, fasting becomes an expression of charity, the pure love of Christ.
As you study this week, consider the question: What is the fast that I have chosen?
And as always, keep streaking the scriptures!
