January 20, 2025

DON’T DO TO IMPRESS PEOPLE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you….But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you….But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:3-4; 6; 17-18 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

Today we see three spiritual disciplines being taught by Jesus—giving, praying, and fasting. He drives home the point that these disciplines are not to be done to impress people. These disciplines are to be done in private so that your reward will come from your Father not from men.

It is what we do in the secret places of our lives that open space for God to reward us in the public arena of our lives. If we use giving, prayer, or fasting to impress people then our reward is only what we get from people. 

Before Jesus left the earth after His resurrection, He instructed His followers to wait in Jerusalem until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. He had promised them this gift would be an empowerment for their future ministry. He didn’t give them a lot of explanation of what that empowerment would look like. They were just told to wait.

Their waiting is recorded in Acts chapters one and two. From the five hundred that saw Jesus ascend into heaven there were only 120 who continued to wait in prayer for the promise of the Spirit. They were faithfully waiting for about 10 days.

The waiting of the disciples was their work of making space for the promise Jesus had given them. 

When we practice prayer and fasting in private, we are waiting for the reward of God’s promises to be released in our lives. We should anticipate that we will receive new revelations of truth as we read God’s Word because our spirit-man is more in alignment with the Holy Spirit. 

Expect to get fresh thoughts and ideas during this time of prayer and fasting. Be sure to write down your impressions in a journal so that you can read later your thoughts. Each day things will become clearer as you continue to listen to the Holy Spirit. 

I believe some of the greatest rewards God gives us is the ability to discern truth, show us how to remove things from our lives that are hindering His work, and break Satan’s attacks in our lives and families. 

Be sure you are committed to continue to practice these three disciplines regularly as you go forward throughout the year. You might consider choosing one day a week to fast all year long. Or you might practice different kinds of fast throughout the year.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit help me to have spiritual ears that listen to what You are saying to me today. Help me to discern Your voice of truth. 

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”