Fasting without
fanfare
"But thou, when thou
fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face, 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." - Matthew 6:17-18
Use diligence to conceal what it would be foolish to parade.
Leave off no outward act of personal cleanliness or adornment,
"anoint thine head, and wash thy face." If your fasting is unto
God, keep it for him. Act in seasons of extraordinary devotion
as you do at other times, that those with whom you come in
contact may not know what special devotion you are practicing.
You may fast, and that fasting may, be discovered, but let it be
no intent of yours that you should "appear unto men to fast." Do
not fast from vainglory, ambition, pride, and
self-glorification, but fast in secret before the Seer of
secrets. Secret fasting shall have an open reward from the Lord,
but that which is done out of mere ostentation shall never be
reckoned in the books of the Lord. Thus our King has taught us
both how to give alms, how to pray, and how to fast.
- Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Commentary on the
Book of Matthew
