Fast in Secret
Jesus taught that fasting should be done privately, not with outward displays of piety. Fasting is a spiritual discipline meant to draw you closer to God by setting aside physical comfort to focus on Him. It matters because making a show of fasting turns a sacred practice into self-promotion. In daily life, this means when you fast, you go about your normal routine without advertising it - keeping your appearance normal and letting it remain a private act of devotion.
Details
- Category
- Worship & Devotion
Key Passages
When thou fastest, anoint thine head
Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus commands that fasting be invisible to others - spiritual disciplines done for human recognition lose their spiritual power and become mere performance.
16oreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Did You Know?
Fasting was assumed in the life of a disciple. Jesus said "when you fast," not "if." The issue was not the practice but the motive.
Fasting without prayer is just dieting. The point is to deny the body so the spirit can focus. It is a weapon in spiritual warfare, not a tool for self-improvement.
The reward for secret fasting is the same as secret giving and secret prayer. The Father who sees in secret will reward openly. Not with health or weight loss. With Himself.