Can Fasting Involve Something Other Than Food?

Isaiah 58:5-11*
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Since I have no claim as a scholar, what I have to say about my understanding of the verses above may not agree with the scholars; however, there seems to be room for interpretation of these verses from Isaiah that fasting may involve something other than going without food. There seems to be an indication that God wants our fasting to include self-denial that involves a ministry to those less fortunate than us.

How I treat the poor, the oppressed, the hungry; how I treat my own family; what I have to say about others; all of these things involve some level of self-sacrifice. My level of commitment to God is being measured by my level of concern for others. In James 2:17* are the words “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” So if I am to attempt to measure my faith, I must use a yardstick that includes a measure of my action.

Am I being asked to do anything more than what Jesus did for those He encountered during his time on earth? Definitely not! If the son of God was willing to do these things, should I also follow his example? My gratitude for God’s love should compel me to do as He has done. God’s blessing for my obedience include: God will hear my prayers; He will be my guide; He will satisfy my needs (note this isn’t my wants); and God’s glory will guard my backside. I become the blessed for blessing others.

*New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society