Not A Show: Fasting For God

Tim Webb • January 9, 2026

Matthew 6:17-18 “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face that thou appear not unto men to fast and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”


Fasting isn't performance. It’s not about making a scene or gaining sympathy. Jesus said when you fast clean yourself up look normal. Don’t parade your sacrifice. God sees in secret.


Fasting is personal. Yes churches can fast corporately but the heart must still be private. This isn’t about drawing attention to ourselves. It’s about seeking God's attention alone.


And here's the beauty of it. When you fast in secret your Father responds openly. He honors the humility. He blesses the hunger. He responds with power. It may not be with fireworks but it will be real deep lasting change in you and those you pray for.


Respond:
Commit to a quiet fast. Tell no one unless necessary. Let God be the only one who knows and trust Him to respond in ways only He can. He sees. He knows. He rewards.


Keep Looking Up!

Share today's devotional

Same, But Different: Uniqueness in Fasting

January 9, 2026
Esther 4:16 "Fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day, and if I perish, I perish." The Bible gives us multiple examples of fasting: the absolute fast (no food or water), the complete fast (only water), the partial fast (abstaining from certain foods or pleasures). What matters is not the type, but the heart behind it. Esther called for a fast because her people faced annihilation. Daniel fasted from the meat from the king's table to honor God. 1 Corinthians even speaks of married couples fasting from physical intimacy (with mutual consent & for a set time) to seek the Lord. So whether it’s turning off the TV, skipping lunch, giving up sugar, or not touching social media, if it's given up to seek the Lord it matters. Fasting says "This is good, but God You're better. And I need You more." Respond: Don’t overcomplicate it. Ask the Lord what He wants you to set aside. Then obey. It may be small, it may seem insignificant, but He will honor it if it comes from the heart. Keep looking up!

When God Says, "Here I Am"

By Tim Webb • January 7, 2026
Isaiah 58:9 "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am." What a promise! Not just that God hears us when we pray, but that when we fast and cry out to Him with sincerity, He answers with His presence, "Here I am." That’s not just theology, it’s reality. God is always with His children. He’ll never leave or forsake us. But there are moments when His presence becomes so evident, so weighty, so real, it feels like heaven has come near. That’s what Isaiah is pointing to. Not just God's omnipresence, but His manifest presence. There are times in life when we need more. We need God to move in power. We need Him to deal with a wayward loved one, break an addiction, heal a heart, or revive a church. And when we fast, really fast, we're not earning His help, we're tuning our hearts to hear Him say, "Here I am." Respond: Begin your fast with this heart, in prayer, "Lord, I don’t just want answers. I want You." Ask Him to meet you in power and presence, and believe He will show up when you cry out. Keep looking up!

The Fast That God Has Chosen

By Tim Webb • January 7, 2026
Isaiah 58:6 "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" Fasting isn’t about trying to impress God or others, it’s about drawing closer to the Lord and desiring His power in our lives. In Isaiah 58, God lays out what kind of fast pleases Him. He wants a fast that loosens wickedness, lifts heavy burdens, sets captives free, and breaks every yoke. That kind of fast isn’t showy. It doesn’t seek attention. It seeks God. There are hidden yokes in our lives, things we’ve battled for years, habits we’ve never shaken, burdens we’ve carried silently. We’ve prayed about them, we’ve wept over them, but what if we got serious enough to fast? Not to twist God’s arm, but to say, "God, I need You more than I need food, more than I need comfort, more than I need anything else." When we fast God’s way, chains begin to fall, not just ours, but others’, too. Respond: Ask God what kind of fast He desires of you. Surrender your appetite for comfort to hunger for Him. Seek freedom, for yourself and for others, by taking fasting seriously. Keep looking up!