"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. But when you fast [do it] so that it will not be obvious to men 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" (Matt. 6:16-18). Fasting? In secret? What is this all about, one might ask?

Fasting is simply doing without something to gain God's attention and favor. Fasting is a form of personal sacrifice?sacrificing something needed or important to gain something from God that's even more important. Fasting is never fully explained in the Bible nor is it specifically commanded by Christ. It is however something the Lord expected his servants to do after he left. "The time will come when the bridegroom [Christ] will be taken from them; then they will fast" (Matt. 9:15).

The prophet, Isaiah, spoke on God's behalf explaining God's perspective on fasting. God explains that fasting is about being eager to know God's ways and to do good (Isa. 58:2). He says fasting is about humbling oneself before God, about pleasing God and not oneself, and about being peaceable (58:4-5). God says that fasting is about restoring justice (58:6) and freeing the oppressed (58:6) and about providing for the poor (58:7) and taking care of the needy among your own people (58:7). Fasting, God says, is about not being accusatory or malicious but about spending oneself in behalf of the hungry and oppressed (58:9-10). These attitudes and actions coupled with sacrificial self-denial gets God's attention?"Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here I am" (58:9). "Then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like noonday" (58:10). "?He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame" (58:11). That's what God's talkin' about! "?

Then they will fast." Are you? And in secret, no less. Why? That's easy. Only in secret can one be sure it's for God. God knows anyway. He wants us to know our motives. Fasting with impure motives and intentions may only lead to hunger pains or other discomforts. It may impress others we tell. It won't bring favor from God though. If one is going fast, make it count. Do it in secret and then God AND you will know what it's for. That, according to Jesus, will get God's attention. "Your Father?will reward you."

And that's a good thing.