Preferred Fasting

Fasting provides challenges, opportunities, and pitfalls.  Even in the time of Isaiah, 700+ years before Christ, fasting somehow became and end in itself, a matter of fulfilling the law and led to quarreling, fighting and beating. (cf. Is 58: 4). While the pinch of deprivation, be it of food, a favorite pastime or sleep might help remove barriers that stand in the way of our relating to Jesus through prayer or service to those in need,  we need to remember that it is only worth the effort if it is bringing up the quality of our friendship with Jesus and the genuineness of our living out of our faith.  Fasting is a tool to help us do this, and should not become the main focus of our Lent.
Isaiah describes in detail some practical "fastings" that please God more than the giving up of bad or questionable habits or the performance of penance: releasing those bound unjustly, setting free the oppressed, sharing bread with the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, and not turning backs on those who reach out to us. (Cf. Is 58: 6-9).  Does our Lenten regimen include some of these, or something similar?  Even to pick one such action would make our Lent worthwhile, and one that would continue after Lent is over.
Bro. Rene