How We Should Fast--Matthew 6:16-18

I know it's a bit ironic to talk about fasting on New Year's day as this is usually a "feast day" for most of us, and believe me, feast days are totally biblical too as we remember the blessings that God has given to us.  However, there is a time for everything and like prayer, fasting is something that Jesus just assumes we are going to do naturally as believers...."When you fast...."

Like prayer, Jesus is going to focus more on the heart of the matter than giving us an exact formula to follow.  Let's look at that text.

Fasting
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Fasting is not to be done for show in order to bring recognition to oneself.  In today's culture we might be told to make sure we still take a bath or shower and wear clean clothes and use whatever type of deodorant or makeup or whatever else we would normally put on to make us look normal.  There's no need for this.  This is something that's supposed to be between you and God and not something that you need to broadcast to the entire world.  Trust that God will see you and hear your prayer (which is usually closely associated with fasting) and that He will answer correctly and that any reward you receive will be given in heaven.

Remember that fasting should be a spiritual discipline just like reading the Bible and prayer, and should be done out of a desire to push out things that are getting in the way of you being able to hear God's voice, but should not be done out of a feeling of doing it to earn God's favor or to be seen as pious or holy by other men.  Make sure that you are glorifying God in all that you say and do.