Day 3
Matthew 6:16-18 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
I hope you will lean hard into this 21-day journey and make every effort to connect with God on a deeper level. I hope you’ll seek more of Him and seek ways to give more of yourself to Him, giving higher and higher priority to the things of God. Pause for a moment and consider what you hope to experience during these 21 days.
One thing I’ve found is that when you turn up the heat on your own pursuit of God and begin to grow, it can become something you want to talk about more often, or that you want others to see in your life. Let me join Jesus in giving caution here. If you truly desire greater spiritual power and conformity to the image of Jesus, it is important that you fight the temptation to share with others all that you are experiencing.
Protect your intimacy with God and keep private many of the moments He has with you. Cherish them. Journal about them. And keep them sacred. In some weird ways they lose their beauty when talked about openly.
Trust this: Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Today, reflect on this:
What do you truly hope to experience in these 21 days?
Which reward do you seek most: that others see you as spiritually strong, or that God actually owns more of your life? Tell yourself the truth.
When are you most tempted to act more spiritual than you are?
What reward would you love for God to give you for being faithful to Him in the secret place?
Record your goals and a prayer in your journal.