Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure- pressed down, shaken together, and running over- will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Luke 6:38 CSB

The Israelites wanted to know, Why have we fasted, but You have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed! (Isaiah 58:3a CSB). When have you thought these very words or ones like them? Prayed, yet didn’t feel heard?

In Isaiah 58:5-7 NLT, God lets them know that something was missing in their request. 

What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling?

This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.

You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance,

bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. 

You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes.

Is this what you call fasting?

Do you really think this will please the Lord?

No, this is the kind of fasting I want:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;

lighten the burden of those who work for you.

Let the oppressed go free,

and remove the chains that bind people.

Share your food with the hungry,

Give shelter to the homeless.

Give clothes to those who need them, 

and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

They wanted a vertical connection with God, but they weren’t fulfilling the horizontal command to love others. 

When our prayers don’t seem heard, or our fasting goes unnoticed, look around and see where we are pouring ourselves out for others. Tony Evans once suggested to “give away what you are asking for and He will join you.” 

Luke 6 says, Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure- pressed down, shaken together, and running over- will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured back to you (vs. 38 CSB)

The first word is Give. Do that first, THEN it will be given to you. 

Lord, when we are seeking answers or blessings from You, help us remember Your truth. Help us to pour ourselves out for others in love and sacrifice. 

Johna Clemons