Letter to the Congregations: 19th September 2026

Our dear brethren,

“‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’” (Isaiah 58:3a).

These questions are posed, not directly from the mouths of the nation of Judah, but definitely from their hearts. Similar questions often come from the hearts of people all over the world as they express their disappointment in God and question their Creator’s motives. In many cases this is because, like those people addressed by Isaiah, many think they can bend God to their will and expect Him to give them the results that they want in some sort of transactional relationship. Can people use the God-given spiritual tool of fasting to bend God’s will to their own will?

God gave a rebuttal to His people, calling them out for fasting for the wrong purposes, with the wrong intention: “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness” (Isaiah 58:3b-4a). And then He gave a command, pointing out the heart of the matter: “You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high” (verse 4b).

The fast that we should strive for, or rather the attitude deep in our hearts that we should strive for when we fast, is one that draws us close to our God so we can hear His thoughts, His will, His guidance. Our fasting can’t and won’t bend His will to fit ours but our fasting can begin to bend our will to line up with His. And His will for us is to be free from “the bonds of wickedness” and “the heavy burdens” and oppression of sin. His will for us is that we might be healed “speedily,” and that “righteousness” might point us in the right direction and that He might be our “rear guard” so we have nothing to fear.

This is the type of fast that we are in need of. As we approach the upcoming fast of the Day of Atonement, when we will afflict our souls, let’s strive with our God’s help to seek His will.

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe