Willing To Humble Yourself?. . .

He knows the intentions and motives of our hearts. God weighs our hearts (Prov. 21:2). He saw the proud hearts of the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes.

Go Fast. Did you notice? Did you notice that Jesus assumed we will fast when He said,

But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (NKJV) Matt. 6:17-18

To anoint your head and wash your face was ancient hygiene. Jesus is telling them to clean-up and look their best. This is the opposite of a sad and gloomy face. This is like Jesus’ encouragement to us to pray in secret (Matt. 6:6). God knows our heart. He knows when we are fasting and He knows when we are just acting. Jesus’ message is clear. Do your fasting unto God the Father.

Seeking God. Fasting occurred for many reasons. Most of the time fasting occurred at times of great stress (war, sin, fear, death) or very important decisions. Fasting was more than going without food. It was about begging God for help! It is about seeking God. It was about humility. That was how David viewed fasting,

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting; And my prayer kept returning to my bosom. (NASB) Ps. 35:13

It was an act of humility. Ezra also viewed fasting as an act of humbling oneself before the Lord (Ezra 8:21). And so does God,

And it came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently. Then the word of the LORD came . . . saying, “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me?” (NASB) 1 Kings 21:27-29

“Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? (NASB) Isaiah 58:5

There is a curious passage in Leviticus 23:27 dealing with the day of atonement. It says that on . . .

. . . the day of atonement . . . you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD. (NASB) Lev. 23:27

The Hebrew word for “humble” means “to force submission.” And so the Jews understand this day to be a day of fasting.

Conclusion. Fasting has a spiritual meaning. It is an act of humility before God. God sees it as self-denial. Philippians 2:8 says Jesus humbled Himself by becoming “obedient.” That is, He denied Himself. He submitted Himself to the Father.

Did you know that Jesus fasted too? We are told He fasted when He went into the desert to be tested by Satan (Matt. 4:2). It was a time of crisis. It was a time of spiritual preparation for testing by Satan.

Are you in a spiritual crisis, depressed, facing a major decision, or in real need? How about fasting? It simply says, “Father, I am humbling myself. I am submitting to you. I am seeking you. Please help me. Please forgive me. Please answer me!” Fasting is a choice to suffer as you seek His face . . . It says, “Lord I am serious!” Jesus said, “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”