RE Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day two)
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Wash your face. What outward sign are we to give that we are being cleansed from within? An outward cleanliness. Jesus instructs us to show the result, not the nitty gritty of the process. By fasting we are being cleansed, purified, made ready for use. Let us approach the concept of a fast with this mindset. Jesus is making us ready for his purposes, and that should cause us to show outward joy when we focus on the result rather than the process.
