What Does the Bible Say About Prayer?

Remember Who Gets the Glory

Continuing in Matthew 6:16-18, we see this principle applied in the area of fasting.

(Matthew 6:16-18 KJV) “Moreover 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. (17) But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; (18) That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

Using this same principle, fasting should be done in secret so that only the person and God knows about it. Obviously, close family members might notice the person is fasting, but like the person fasting, they should not let others know. Many professing Christians make a big deal out of this too. Often it is after-the-fact mention of it with statements such as, “I was praying and fasting yesterday, and the Lord really laid upon my heart…”

While there is nothing wrong with sharing what God lays upon our heart, we do not have to broadcast that we were fasting when it happened. It is almost like some want other people to know that they were fasting and because of it, God shared some special revelation with them that others are not made aware of because they do not have the special relationship with the Lord as the person telling them about it.