|
"...And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour
and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal
countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and
seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward
in full already. But when you fast, perfume your head and
wash your face, so that your fasting may not be noticed
by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your
Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open..."
- Matthew 6: 16-18
Fasting is something we do that is just between the Lord
and ourselves, in the sense of not putting on a display.
We can sometimes think, we dare not say to anyone, that we
are fasting. But I believe these verses are talking about
the attitude behind it. We are not to tell people just so
they will think how ‘spiritual’ we are, or to make a big
display of the fact that we are fasting. We are to just go
about our day as we normally would – allowing for some times
we’ve set aside to pray.
If someone asks us over for a meal, there’s nothing wrong
with giving the reason you decline to go or if you do go,
the reason you’re not eating. We don’t have to feel bad
about it, and all knotted up inside because we told
someone. Feeling this way can ruin the whole reason why
we’re fasting in the first place.
So when fasting – just be normal!
We shouldn’t put on such a big display
When we set aside time to fast and pray
© By M.S.Lowndes
A relating Devotional you may like to read
Prayer And Fasting. If you want to send this page to a friend, click on 'Share This With a Friend' below.
|
