Secret Devotion

Read Matthew 6:16-18 

“So that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:18)

“Secrecy: Consciously refraining from having our good deeds and qualities generally known, which, in turn, rightly disciplines our longing for recognition” (The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible, 2308).

The practice of secrecy cuts against the grain of our world’s image-driven culture. Jesus is calling us to a radical unknownness—an upside down, completely different alternative to our self-promoting culture. I do not need to be seen. I do not need to be understood by others. I do not need others to know the good things I am doing. I simply need to seek my Father’s face first.

Love for my Father must motivate my actions, instead of my actions being motivated by the opinions of others. I must make it my ultimate priority to seek the love of my Father. My Father’s love for me is shown in allowing his Son to die a horrific death on a tree. My Father says it is by His Son’s piercing that I am brought healing and peace. My ultimate goal in secrecy is to seek My Father’s face not only for myself, but for others.

My self-denial is out of love for this Father, who has shown the ultimate self-denial for me. I let go of food to let my Father know how I long for unity in His Bride, the Church. I let go of needing to be seen, in order to surrender to my Father’s ways before mine. I seek my Father’s face with my time in order to wait for a heart to hear His voice above the drone of media and opinions of others.

My Father of love sees me. His word sustains me. He asks me to rely on His lovingkindness. He graciously allows me to trust in His faithfulness. He allows me to see His ability to sustain the universe with one Word. He is in control; I am not. He loves His bride and will keep her. His ways are higher than my ways. In secret, He comforts me in the brilliance of His love.

FOR REFLECTION:

• How can I practice the discipline of secrecy?
• How might I incorporate fasting into the rhythms of my week?

by Kelly Erickson