OTKC 15: Fast In Secret

When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  Matthew 6:16-18 (ESVUK)

It can come across like religion is an Olympic sport.

Contenders take their place at the starting blocks and as the gun fires, each one endeavours to look holier, more pious and, as a result, closer to God than the others. And this has got to be clear to the audience to other contenders. It’s got to be clear that this candidate is close to God because of how he gives. Whereas it’s clear that this other one must be closer because of how she prays. Yet to truly have a claim to know God, this contender must surely win it because of how he looks as he announces that he’s fasting. To fast is to afflict the soul, and nothing says that you’re afflicting your soul more than that pose of gloom and wearing clothes to make it clear to others that it’s no ordinary time – this is a time to behave in a super spiritual fashion. Now is the time to let the world know that you’re taking God seriously with that sombre look and that declaration, as you smote your breast, that now is the time to fast.

You might think that this is being somewhat melodramatic and exaggerated, yet what Jesus addresses when He talks about fasting is not that far from the Olympic sport of fasting. It’s as though the key to being seen as super spiritual – is to be seen to be super spiritual.

Heart us, Oh God

The tragedy is that often, the act of fasting really is meant to be a time of afflicting the soul. The act of going without food and, in some cases, liquids is depriving the body of the key physical material it needs for sustenance. To deprive the body of that as an act of relationship to God is not to be taken lightly at all. Yet in that very thought is the key – it is to God. He is the audience, His is the primary relationship, and when the act is conducted as it should, it is often the grace and strength of God that allows it to happen.

Prayer and fasting often go together because they are activities of relating and connecting to God with a great degree of seriousness and commitment to pour out to Him whilst looking to Him on a matter. It expresses the total dependence on Him and seeking Him for response, for guidance, for protection, for provision, for power, for peace, for His presence to make a difference in a situation.

Jesus’ command focuses the attention of the follower to remembering the sole focus of the activity. It doesn’t rule out corporate fasting or the cry that is often necessary when the heart mourns to God. The key to this act again is to ensure that it is all about God. That means nobody else has to know and it doesn’t have to be broadcast in your actions and postures that this is what is going on.

As the seriousness of this call takes place on the inside, so the relationship with God is cultivated. Fasting is to be pursued as a key activity to develop that relationship with God as He calls and recognise how amazing His grace is to enable fasting and how merciful He is to hear us when we communicate with Him in that manner and seek the ultimate reward from such an activity – that reward being a close encounter of the divine kind that deepens our love for Him, our awe for Him and our appreciation for all that He is and does for His honour.

Practical Steps for Fasting in Secret

• Acknowledge the need to focus on God in fasting: Search the scriptures for episodes of fasting individually and collectively to appreciate the value of fasting.
• Learn to Fast: There is the discipline to fast and there’s developing the sensitivity in fasting. This is something that can be intentionally developed over time as the relationship with God develops and advice and counsel is sought by those who have knowledge and experience of fasting.
• Check your heart: You are ensuring that you know why you’re fasting and who you’re fasting to. There is the check to ensure that it’s not a public performance to appear super spiritual or keep up with expectations of others with external signs. Fasting is a matter of the heart to God and a heart for God so when the practice is conducted in that arena and permission is given for honesty and openness to the leading of God’s Spirit then great reward can be experienced in deeper humility and reliance on God.

When you see the state of the world, it must lead you to afflict your soul. When you see the state of the country, it must lead you to afflict your soul. This is applicable at every level including what we recognise about the state of our own heart without Christ. This is why one of the aspects of the blessed people is that they mourn. They mourn about the spiritual poverty and the affect it has on life. That cry to the Lord can be expressed through fasting and that expression is sourced in the only hope to do something about the state of our heart, our relationships, our community, our culture as well as our country and our world.

Fasting makes a difference, particularly when it’s a matter of the heart expressed in secret to the precious audience of One. This is why the King commands it. This is why followers of the King should be keen to observe it and teach others to do the same.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom

Questions for Reflection

• What challenges do you face when fasting in secret?
• What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping you fast secretly?
• What can you do this week to encourage others to fast secretly?