Fasting with Humility

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” – Matthew 6:16-18

Reflection:

After teaching about giving and prayer, Jesus turns to fasting and continues to address the hidden motives of religious devotion. Fasting was a familiar practice among God’s people, often connected to repentance, grief, dependence, and seeking the Lord. Yet Jesus warns that even fasting can become a performance when the heart wants to be admired more than transformed. The hypocrites made their faces look gloomy so others would notice their sacrifice. What should have been an act of hunger for God became a public announcement of spiritual seriousness.

Jesus does not say, “If you fast,” but “when you fast,” showing that fasting has a place in the life of discipleship. However, He shifts the focus away from appearance and toward the Father who sees in secret. Fasting is not meant to prove holiness to others or to make God impressed with our discipline. It is a way of humbling ourselves before Him, acknowledging that we do not live by bread alone, and creating space to seek Him with sincerity. The value of fasting is not in being seen as devoted, but in drawing near to God with an undivided heart.

Jesus’ instruction to anoint the head and wash the face is a call to ordinary, quiet faithfulness. Rather than advertising sacrifice, the disciple is to carry fasting before the Father privately. This does not mean no one may ever know we are fasting, especially in shared spiritual practices, but it does mean our motive matters. Fasting with humility teaches the soul to seek God’s presence more than human praise. It reminds us that secret obedience is never wasted because the Father sees what others do not. His reward is better than recognition.

Personal Application:

This teaching invites us to examine why we practice spiritual disciplines. We may not disfigure our faces to show we are fasting, but we can still want others to notice our sacrifice, admire our discipline, or assume we are spiritually mature. We may subtly mention what we have given up or feel disappointed when no one recognizes our effort. Jesus lovingly redirects us to the secret place. The question is not how spiritual we appear, but whether our hunger is truly turned toward the Father.

Fasting can help reveal what has been ruling our desires. When we voluntarily set aside food or another good gift for a season of prayer, we may discover impatience, dependence on comfort, distraction, irritability, or cravings we did not realize had such influence. These discoveries are not failures; they are invitations. God uses fasting to uncover what needs surrender and to deepen our dependence on Him. It is not a way to earn His favor, but a way to bring our whole selves, body and soul, into a posture of need, trust, and worship.

Today, consider whether the Lord is inviting you into a quiet act of fasting or another hidden discipline that strengthens devotion. If you fast, do so with wisdom, humility, and prayer, not to impress anyone or punish yourself, but to seek God more fully. Let the hunger you feel become a reminder to pray, confess, listen, and depend. If fasting from food is not wise for your health, you can still practice surrender by setting aside another comfort, distraction, or habit to make room for the Lord. The Father sees the hidden offering of a humble heart.

Thought-Provoking Questions:

1. What motives surface in me when I practice spiritual disciplines such as fasting, prayer, giving, or serving?
2. Where might I be tempted to seek recognition for sacrifices that are meant to be offered quietly to God?
3. What desire, comfort, or distraction may the Lord be inviting me to surrender so I can seek Him more fully?
4. How can fasting or hidden obedience help me remember that the Father’s approval is better than human praise?

Prayer:

Father, thank You for seeing what is done in secret and for inviting me into deeper fellowship with You. Forgive me for the times I have wanted my devotion to be noticed, praised, or admired by others. Purify my motives and teach me to practice fasting, prayer, giving, and obedience with humility. Help me hunger for You more than recognition, comfort, or control. When fasting reveals weakness, impatience, or misplaced desire, meet me with grace and lead me into surrender. Give me wisdom to practice discipline in a way that honors my body and my devotion to You. Make my hidden life pleasing in Your sight, and let my heart be satisfied in Christ alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.