“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” — Matthew 6:16–18
Fasting is one of the most misunderstood spiritual practices in the modern world. Many people think of it as a religious ritual, a difficult discipline, or something reserved for “super‑spiritual” Christians. Yet Jesus speaks about fasting in Matthew 6:16–18 as something normal, expected, and deeply relational. He doesn’t say if you fast; He says when you fast. That alone tells us fasting is meant to be part of the everyday life of someone who wants to know God deeply and walk in His purpose.
Here’s what fasting can teach you about God, and why this ancient practice still transforms lives today.
Fasting Teaches You What You Truly Depend On
One of the most important lessons fasting teaches is dependence. When you step away from food for a period of time, you quickly discover how much your body, mind, and emotions rely on physical comfort. Hunger rises. Thoughts scatter. Emotions feel sharper. Your body begins to protest. In those moments, fasting starts to show what has been secretly shaping your decisions, your reactions, and your patterns.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:16–18 that fasting is not about being seen by others but about being seen by “your Father who is in secret.” That means fasting is not a performance; it’s a posture. It’s a way of saying, “Father, I want You more than I want what normally sustains me.” When you fast, you are intentionally removing something good—food—to pursue something greater—God Himself.
This is where dependence becomes clear. You begin to see how often you turn to food for comfort, distraction, or relief. You notice how quickly your mind reaches for something physical when your heart feels unsettled. Fasting exposes these patterns not to shame you but to free you. It shows you how much you need God’s strength, God’s presence, and God’s Word to sustain you.
When Jesus says, “your Father who sees in secret will reward you,” He is reminding you that fasting is not about suffering; it’s about receiving. The reward is not a public applause but a deeper awareness of God’s presence, a clearer mind, and a heart that is more anchored in Him than in anything else.
Fasting teaches you that dependence on God is not weakness—it is strength. It is the kind of strength that grows when you choose spiritual hunger over physical hunger, when you choose God’s voice over your cravings, and when you choose obedience over comfort.
Fasting Teaches You What You Truly Hunger For
Every person hungers for something. Some hunger for success. Some hunger for approval. Some hunger for comfort. Some hunger for control. Fasting brings these hidden hungers to the surface. When you fast, you begin to see what your heart reaches for when food is no longer an option.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:16–18 that fasting should be done in a way that is seen only by the Father. That means fasting is not about impressing people; it’s about revealing your heart to God. When you fast, your heart becomes more honest. You begin to see what you truly crave. You begin to see what has been competing with God for your attention, affection, and devotion.
This is where fasting becomes transformative. When physical hunger rises, spiritual hunger has a chance to rise with it. You begin to say, “Lord, I want You more than I want this meal.” You begin to say, “Father, I want Your presence more than I want this comfort.” You begin to say, “God, I want Your voice more than I want this craving.”
Fasting teaches you that spiritual hunger is not optional—it is essential. It is the hunger that shapes your decisions, your relationships, your habits, and your future. When you fast, you are training your heart to desire God above everything else. You are teaching your soul to seek Him first. You are reminding your body that it is not in charge—your spirit is.
This is why fasting remains powerful today. It resets your hunger. It reorders your priorities. It strengthens your inner life. It helps you see that the deepest hunger in your life is not for food but for God Himself.
Fasting Teaches You How God Responds to Obedience
One of the most encouraging parts of Matthew 6:16–18 is the promise Jesus gives: “your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” This means fasting is not just about what you give up; it’s about what God gives you. When you fast, you are stepping into a spiritual practice that God Himself honors.
Fasting teaches you that God responds to obedience. He sees your sacrifice. He sees your desire. He sees your pursuit. He sees your willingness to set aside physical comfort to seek Him. And He responds.
The reward Jesus speaks about is not always dramatic or emotional. Sometimes the reward is clarity. Sometimes it is peace. Sometimes it is conviction. Sometimes it is direction. Sometimes it is strength. Sometimes it is breakthrough. Sometimes it is a deeper awareness of God’s presence. But the reward always comes.
Fasting teaches you that obedience is not empty—it is fruitful. It teaches you that God is not distant—He is attentive. It teaches you that spiritual disciplines are not burdens—they are pathways to transformation. It teaches you that God meets you when you seek Him, and He meets you in ways that shape your life long after the fast is over.
This is why fasting remains powerful for believers today. It is not a ritual; it is a relationship. It is not about suffering; it is about seeking. It is not about deprivation; it is about devotion. It is not about earning God’s favor; it is about experiencing God’s presence.
Fasting teaches you that God is near, God is present, and God responds to those who pursue Him with sincerity and obedience.
Summary
Fasting is one of the most transformative spiritual practices a believer can embrace. It teaches dependence by revealing what you truly rely on. It teaches hunger by exposing what your heart craves most. It teaches obedience by showing how God responds when you seek Him with sincerity. Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:16–18 remind us that fasting is not about being seen by people but about being seen by the Father, and the Father rewards those who seek Him. Fasting remains powerful today because it draws you closer to God, strengthens your inner life, and helps you walk in His purpose with clarity and conviction.
Next Steps
- Start a simple fast — Choose one meal this week to set aside, and use that time to pray, read Scripture, and seek God with sincerity and focus.
- Ask God to reshape your hunger — Pray for a deeper desire for His presence, His Word, and His will, asking Him to help you crave what strengthens your spirit more than what satisfies your body.