Matthew 6:17-19
New King James Version
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 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.
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Each new day and each renewed celebration offer the opportunity to refocus on what is truly important.
I note that in the season of Lent, many commence the season on Ash Wednesday and have ashes placed on their foreheads. Lent is when the faithful plan to sacrifice something to show their sincerity in making a personal commitment to the Lord in recognition of His sacrifice.
Typically, we tend to give up worldly pleasures. A favorite food or drink, an unhealthy habit, or anything that might appear to be a luxury are usually on the menu for fasting. Although these things can be a healthy choice for the natural body, I pause to wonder how God sees them. I recall a favorite verse of mine:
Isaiah 55:8-9
New King James Version
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
It is good for us to seriously consider how the Lord’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. It is a measuring stick for our decisions that will add true substance to what we ultimately decide to do.
Consider what we include in our fasting menu, not just for a season, like Lent, but for all our efforts to please our Lord throughout our life.
With little thought, it seems to me that in place of our normal thoughts on planning a fast we should consider fasting from judgement, prejudices, anger, self-doubt, greed, jealousy, unforgiveness, pettiness, gossip and the like that move us away from the Lord.
We can replace them with encouragement, graciousness, patience, goodness, self-control, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, gratitude, peace, joy and love. These move us closer to the Lord and maintain our closeness to Him.
These passages serve as a poignant reminder of the impermanence of worldly possessions and perspectives and the enduring value of spiritual vision and wealth.
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TURNING POINTS
Awareness of the spiritual versus the natural has the benefit of keeping our good intentions on track to achieve desired results. Those desired results include not returning to what we rightfully choose to include in our fasting menus.