The first time I fasted was a total waste. I made a deal out of it everywhere I went. I went out for pizza with some friends and stared at it longingly and said, “I wish I could I could eat that but… I’m fasting.” I went to church and emitted hunger groans. “Oh how I wish I could eat food, but… I’m fasting.” I must have told everyone everywhere I went.
I got what I deserved when I broke the fast with a giant burger, which I learned is not a good idea.
Of all the developments we can make in life, spiritual development can be the most invisible. For that reason, it can be tempting to want to blurt it all out to impress others. The mad irony of doing so, however, is that our spiritual development is often stifled (if not completely cancelled) by our pride—like the person who once told me they thought they had reached “Christian perfection.” You just lost it, I thought to myself.
When we pursue Jesus, our Father sees us and that’s what most important. Spirituality meant to impress is a fraud. May we meet our Father in secret and be rewarded in secret.
*This devotional was created out of the themes of Matthew 6:1-6 and 16-18 found in today’s reading at CommonPrayer.net. Below are the various AI-created pictures I typed into existence via Mid Journey to mock up artwork for today’s post.
Jamin Bradley 