Fast in Secret

Back to By David C. Pack

Fasting should not be “for show.” It is not proof of spirituality. How long or how often you fast should rarely be mentioned to anyone. Neither should anyone notice that you are fasting due to your appearance—it should not show on your face.

Jesus gave clear instruction about this in Matthew 6:16-18: “Moreover when you 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. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; that you appear not unto men to fast, but unto your Father which is in secret: and your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly.”

You should wash your face, comb your hair, appear normal. Only God should know that you are fasting.

However, on certain occasions it may be necessary for two or more to fast about the same matter, so keeping it to yourself is unavoidable. But on the whole, only God should know you are fasting.

Always remember that Jesus said, “For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11). Fasting should be more than simple hunger and thirst. It should help you see past the physical, to spiritual principles. A Christian must not live “by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4; see also John 4:34; 6:26-27, 32-35, 50-51). During a fast, you should “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matt. 5:6).

Afflicting yourself should powerfully help you draw closer to God, to study (II Tim. 2:15) and meditate on His Word (Psa. 119:15, 23, 48, 78, 148) and to pray to Him (I Cor. 7:5). These three tools produce an effective fast.

Fasting is a test to see what you will put first—hunger and thirst (“the lusts of the flesh”), or a humble, heartfelt desire to obey and submit yourself before God and draw closer to Him in every way.

Denying yourself in a humble attitude is repentance, not penance. It is not a way to atone for sins—only Christ can do that. A humble person willingly admits that his own ways are wrong and that God’s are right. He seeks God’s way and asks for His help, deliverance, instruction and guidance.

Fasting for Health Reasons

Notice what God says happens when you fast: “Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rearward [rear guard]” (Isa. 58:8).

Many have noticed certain health benefits that accompany fasting. Of course, it can be beneficial to fast for physical reasons. But health fasts, juice fasts (abstaining from solid foods), and other such fasts should not be confused with a SPIRITUAL fast. Such physical fasts are not appropriate for the Day of Atonement or any other time set aside for spiritual fasting.

It is natural for our bodies to be healthy. Our bodies were not made to be sick! When illness strikes, it can be an appropriate time to fast. You may have ingested some illness-causing bacteria, perhaps from spoiled food.

In any case, illness results from some kind of physical sin. God made the human body; therefore, He knows what is good for it. God created laws of health that yield blessings when obeyed. If broken, they bring curses—illness, sickness, disease. All too often, mankind violates these perfect laws—just like it rejects God’s spiritual laws. People often eat too much of one kind of food and not enough of another; or we eat the wrong food altogether. Breaking God’s dietary laws results in ILLNESS.

So, when you find yourself getting sick, stop eating!

Why? To stop eating what made you sick—to stop breaking God’s health laws—to stop sinning.

But understand: Fasting does not heal—only God does, through Jesus Christ (I Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:5; James. 5:14-16). In this case, fasting stops you from sinning physically. Repent, and God will heal.

The Rewards of Fasting

Proper fasting reaps great rewards—both physical and spiritual. Properly used, it will draw you closer to God, show you His will, bring guidance, direction, help, strength, and deliverance. You can now see why fasting is such an essential tool in a Christian’s growth and overcoming.