Generosity, prayer, and fasting focus our motivations and actions on God’s will and His kingdom.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’s extended teaching on the kingdom of God, there’s a moment where He directs the focus from outward good works to inner motivation. “Don’t be like the hypocrites,” He says—the people who love to be seen giving, heard praying, and noticed for their fasting misery. All of these practices are meaningful, yet He urges the audience to examine their motives and do this work in secret, where “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:4).
In His parables, Jesus often portrays the kingdom of God as a place of enough, where the Giver of good things makes sure we have everything we need. Could that be true of the approval we crave too?
We live in a world where the scarcity mindset rules. We are tempted to worry about fairness. In our small talk, we field questions about jobs and marital status and children. In our free time, we scroll through social media and play the comparison game, whether we mean to or not. For inspiration, we turn to our favorite influencers for a glimpse of the good life, looking for the home decor, the clothes, the exercise routine that might finally bring us contentment.
But imagine a kingdom where all have enough. Where we don’t have to jockey for position, where we don’t have to announce ourselves to get the affirmation we deeply long for. This is the kingdom of God, where the lowly are raised up, where our smallest offering, given in earnest, is enough. This is true for our outward actions and our spiritual lives.
Later, Jesus tells a story “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else” (Luke 18:9). Two men, a Pharisee and a tax collector, are praying. One is counted among the highest, holiest men in Jewish culture. The other is regarded with a sneer, labeled a sellout to the empire. One prays, “God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy,unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). The other pleads, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” (v.13). Jesus’s point is clear on who went home justified that day (Matthew 26:36–46).
This isn’t to say that all acts of goodness need to be completely secret. Sometimes, the best gift we can give is to pray out loud for a friend in distress. Sometimes welcoming others into our fasting can open the door to mutual strengthening and encouragement. Jesus’s goal is not to heap rules and guilt onto our spiritual lives, but rather invite us to walk with Him, embracing God’s kingdom lifestyle.
In all of this, it’s the motives that matter. When we give, pray, and fast, when we choose to seek God’s approval more than our fellow travelers,’ we open our hands to release the security we cling to and accept God’s provision. We can rest in knowing every need will be met, and in the end, there is more than enough.
Thank you for all the comments ladies. I am uplifted every day and learn so much from you! God bless America land that I love on this day of prayer. Also – Praying for you dear Emily.
I just finished watching the video for Maverick City/Elevation’s “Jireh”….it lines up with today’s readings perfectly. He is Jireh, more than enough! Praise His Name!!
MK, praying for you that God helps you.
May I ask my SRT sisters to pray for me. I’m struggling with multiple autoimmune diseases. God knows what is ailing me.
@Emily, praying for you during your husband’s deployment, I am so sorry for the loss of your cat at this time. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). May He pour out new strength and abundant comfort on you today.
What a great devotion today, thank you Jen. Thank you for pointing out that there are exceptions for praying out loud, fasting “out loud” for the sake of building up others. What counts is the heart posture behind. Many times when I attempt to fast (when invited by church, from 6am to 6pm, for 3 days, or depending) I pray beforehand for God’s strength to help me to finish the fast, and it is so much easier when knowing others are doing this with me. Reading out loud Isaiah 58: 6-10 several times when fasting also gives me strength and true motivations on the fasting that pleases God.
The tax collector in the reading of today is an example of one poor in spirit, who realizes his true condition of spiritual bankruptcy, who humbles himself. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And such a person is justified. God indeed gives more grace to the humble, and He lifts them up.
When Jesus told his disciples to stay up and pray, they just couldn’t. Many times this has happened to me. Prayers are precious and sweet conversations with God, but prayers are the most difficult to be uttered when in tough seasons, when heavily burdened, just like on the night before the death mission. But Jesus, our Jesus, he prayed 3 times saying the same words, though being extremely sorrowful. This just taught me no need for pretty prayers, no need, when in crisis or in good times, just pray to the point, repeat again and again, and just pray. I find a helpful advice from the Chosen TV series, someone says, I find praying is like a chore at first, but the more I do it, I grow to enjoy it. May we enjoy our prayer time, and savor it like it is a delicious treat onto us. God bless you dear sisters.
Churchmouse you spoke right into my heart. Heidi you gave me a new way to look at things. Thank you all for your comments and for sharing your hearts. Emily I’m praying.
Something new for me this last year is that I bring SRT with me anywhere I go. I have been on 2 trips because of covid, but I sit with my study in the mornings. I find I’m so thirsty for God’s word. I’m so thankful for what I’m learning through all the comments. I read through them everyday. I’m sitting here in the desert wondering if Jesus was walking through, would I have followed Him. Would I have been judgmental with His appearance. His words. Would I have believed in Him. It scares me to say that I may not have. It is much easier to read the Word and follow it for me. I don’t like that I’m so untrusting of others. Cynical. The world is a scary place. So many scammers. I pray for discernment. I know this doesn’t have much to do with todays reading, but it was what came to my mind. Thankful for all of you.