#genuinedevotion 
Maybe this time of Social Distancing is a time to find genuine devotion. In the 58th chapter of Isaiah, the New English Translation it is titled, “The Lord Desires Genuine Devotion”. He really doesn’t ask much in return for Jesus’s death on the cross for our sins. Fasting for lent is an opportunity to give God our genuine devotion.

If you are participating in lent, I want you to reflect, as yesterday was day 20. I want you to really take notice of the key verses below. I encourage you to go and read all of Isaiah 58 on your own time.
Verse 3; They lament, “Why don’t you notice when we fast? Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?” Look at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires, you oppress your workers.
We tend to neglect our most important relationships. God is no different than our spouse and our children, except that we should put Him above all else. Fasting should be a time we are closest to Him. It should be a time when we put down our selfish desires and take notice of our actions and our reactions.
Verse 6; No, this is the kind of fast I want. I want you to remove the sinful chains, to tear away the ropes of burdensome yoke.
Earlier in the week I talked about the Samaritan Woman at the well. I encouraged everyone this week to take notice of the incredible gift we have, our relationship with Christ Jesus. We are blessed with the gift of His eternal love and redemption. With His Holy Spirit, we are that well-watered garden.
Verse 11; The Lord will continually lead you; he will feed you even in parched regions. He will give you renewed strength, and you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring that continually produces water.
My hashtag throughout my Dad’s cancer journey has been “Finding Joy in the Journey”. The Lord ultimately desires for us to find joy. A relationship takes two people. Have you thought about the Lord’s desires lately?
Verse 14; “Then you will find joy in your relationship to the Lord, and I will give you great prosperity and cause crops to grow on the land I gave to your ancestor Jacob.” Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.
God desires for us to flourish. A verse that gets quoted is Jer 29:11 NET; “For I know what I have planned for you”, says the Lord. “I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope”. Often, we miss the surrounding verses. In Jer 29:12-13 NET; When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul.
Are you using this time for genuine devotion? Genuine is to truly be authentic with sincere action. Are you currently living in prayer and consumed with praise? Or are you living in fear and consumed with worry?