Fasting in the Secret Place
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Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | February 23 2026 | Matthew 6:16-18
KEY VERSE: “. . . Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:18, NKJV)
MESSAGE:
As we journey through Lent, many believers choose to fast. Jesus reminds us that fasting is not about what others see, but about what the Father sees in secret.
In Matthew 6, Jesus assumes His followers will fast. He does not say “if,” but “when.” At the same time, He warns against turning fasting into a display. Some, He says, disfigure their faces so others will notice their sacrifice. Their reward ends with human approval.
True fasting is different. It is quiet. It is sincere. It is directed toward the Father who sees beyond appearance. The discipline is not meant to draw attention, but to deepen communion. What happens in secret becomes an offering of trust before God.
When fasting is practised with a right motive, it frees the heart from the need for applause and anchors it in the Father’s presence. The One who sees what is done in secret is faithful to respond.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
As you fast during this Lenten season, examine your motive. Let your devotion remain between you and the Father who sees in secret. Avoid drawing attention to your sacrifice. Instead, allow your fasting to deepen your communion with God. Seek His presence quietly, trusting that He notices what others may never see.
PRAYER:
Father, purify my motives. Teach me to seek You in the hidden place and not for the approval of others. Let my fasting be sincere and directed toward You alone. May what is done in secret draw me closer to Your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
DAILY word study: SECRET In Matthew 6:18, the English word secret derives from the Greek kryptos, meaning hidden, concealed, and not visible to the public eye. It refers to something done out of sight, beyond display or performance.
Jesus uses this word to describe the space where true devotion belongs. The focus is not on hiding from people out of fear, but on directing our hearts toward God without seeking attention. What is done in the hidden place reveals what we truly value.
When your devotion moves from the public eye to the secret place, it becomes personal, sincere, and God-centered.
Reflect on this:
What part of your spiritual life belongs only to you and the Father?
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