“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12
“Fasting, like almsgiving and prayer, must always be done not for the admiration of others but for the worship of God alone. Whenever fasting becomes a performance, it ceases to be righteous activity. Private communion with the Father is the true goal of fasting. Reward from God is predicated on the right attitude and motivation.”
Grant Osborne in Matthew (ZECNT; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010) 237.
Righteous fasting moves us away from people so we return to God.
Too often we can approach this season by moving toward the “admiration of others” rather than toward God.
Lest we have a false start and miss the blessing of the season, be sure to return to the Lord with the right attitude and motivation.
This will prepare us for more generous living, giving, serving, and loving from a transformed heart for life after Lent.
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Amen.