“Untie the Yoke”
Isaiah 58:6 [AMP]
“[Rather] is not this the fast that I have chosen: … to undo the bands
of the yoke…” [AMP]
Take a moment and
do a quick Google or Bing image search and type in the word “Yoke” and view the
results. You should see a number of
pictures of two oxen bound together by a wooden apparatus that encircles the
neck of each ox. Imagine the scene of
two oxen connected by a yoke plowing or drawing heavy loads; consider how they
move forward or stop together. Continue
to imagine how one ox must follow, yield, and submit to the other because of
the yoke binding them together.
So is it when we
are bound or yoked to certain things in our lives.
We may be yoked in
unhealthy relationships (sometimes called “soul ties”), where we can’t stop
thinking about that boyfriend or girlfriend from many years ago hoping for
restoration or relief from our thoughts.
Or, we may be yoked to certain events that occurred when we were younger
that has seemingly marked our lives (negative experiences, hopeful events that
did not work out). Or, we may be yoked
to an ideology (a mindset, pattern of thought) that has us locked in a certain
way of thinking that we just can’t let go because we feel we “have-to” do
whatever that pattern of thought says to do.
Fasting undoes and
unties the yoke that is bound around us. That yoke connects us to that
circumstance or relationship. When we
fast, we are petitioning God to demonstrate His power to take the yoke off of
us that binds us from going forward to live as a freed man or woman. God has designed us to not have unhealthy
yokes in our lives. Remember, the yoke
itself is not unhealthy; it’s unhealthy when we can’t move forward in life
because we are yoked to an unhealthy past.
Prayer:
“Lord, you have the
power to untie the yoke that binds us to our unhealthy relationships and
circumstances. We ask you to remove
those connections and yoke us with those people that will help us to walk in
all that you called us to be. In Jesus
name, Amen.”
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