Day 2. Definitely feeling tired and hungry - May the Lord help us all to focus. Had great time last night praying together with about 10 folks at Grace. Really encouraging to seek the Lord together with friends during a fast. We'll be here at 6 pm tonight if you are interested.

Isaiah wrote "Is this not the fast I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness..." This list goes on, but it is interesting that the first thing he mentions is that there is power in fasting to help break the grip of sin in our lives. I love the term "bands" used here. Oftentimes that is how we feel - bound to sin in some way or another. Fasting can be a part of seeing those bands broken so we can be free to love God and one another. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of "besetting sins". For all of us, there are specific things that seem to just grip us - not wanting to let go. It's like we are tied to them by some unseen force. Certainly coming into God's presence, reading His Word, connecting with other believer and other things help us along the way towards greater and greater freedom. But this weapon called fasting we are picking up can be another part of the answer. Through fasting these bands of wickedness are broken from our hearts and lives! That is encouraging. May the Lord do this work mightely in us through this time of fasting. Let's approach Him with boldness with a cry to be set free from the sin that so easily besets us. May He do a great work in our lives through these 10 days!