The Secret Power of Fasting: When Heaven Watches in Secret and Rewards in the Open
When I began my One Meal A Day (OMAD) fast this October, I did not imagine how quickly heaven would respond. The job I had long desired—one that seemed delayed for months—was suddenly paid in full before I even began. And then, something even more astonishing happened: my friend, who had been struggling for weeks to get her passport, received it the very next day after I began fasting. I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I knew something deeper was happening—something spiritual. Could it be that when I fast, God not only moves in my life but also in the lives of those connected to me?
This question led me to study Matthew 6:16–18, where Jesus said:
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly.”
These words are not just instructions—they are divine secrets. They reveal a formula that unlocks spiritual rewards and supernatural favor. Let’s decode what Jesus was really teaching us about fasting and why it carries such transforming power.
1. Fasting Is a Private Conversation Between You and God
Jesus emphasized “do it in secret.” That means fasting is not about public recognition or proving your spirituality to others. It is about intimacy—a hidden communion between you and your Father. Just like prayer, fasting invites you into God’s private chambers where heaven’s secrets are revealed.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says,
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray…”
Fasting is one of the highest forms of humbling yourself before God. It quiets the flesh so your spirit can hear Him more clearly. You’re saying, “Lord, I depend on You more than on food, pleasure, or control.” And because God “sees in secret,” He doesn’t just hear your words—He reads your motives, your heart, your surrender. That’s why the reward is open.
2. The Reward of Fasting Is Transformation, Not Transaction
When I first started OMAD, my goal was simple: I wanted to lose weight. Yet, as I fasted, I began to notice something unexpected—my heart was softening, my mind was clearing, my faith was strengthening. The very thing that started as a physical goal became a spiritual rebirth.
This is the hidden beauty of fasting—it purifies your desires. It shifts your focus from the body to the spirit. Isaiah 58 reveals the kind of fasting God desires:
“Is this not the fast I have chosen? To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free…” (Isaiah 58:6)
Fasting isn’t about manipulating God—it’s about aligning yourself with His will. As you empty your plate, you make room for His presence. As your stomach hungers for food, your soul begins to hunger for righteousness. And when your motives align with heaven, results begin to manifest—quickly and powerfully.
3. Fasting Connects You to God’s Power and Others to Your Overflow
Could it be that others are blessed through your obedience? Absolutely.
In the Bible, Esther fasted not just for herself but for her entire nation (Esther 4:16). Her personal sacrifice opened the door for deliverance for millions of Jews. Daniel’s 21-day fast didn’t only bring him revelation but also influenced an entire kingdom.
When you fast, you become a vessel through which God releases His will on earth. You may not realize it, but your obedience can break chains around others. Your friend receiving her passport may not have been coincidence—it may have been your obedience unlocking her favor.
That’s the mystery of divine partnership: sometimes, God uses your secret altar to shift someone else’s story.
4. Fasting Builds You Into a Giver, Not a Getter
In Matthew 6, Jesus mentions three secret disciplines: giving, praying, and fasting. Notice the order—He didn’t separate them; He tied them together.
“When you give…”
“When you pray…”
“When you fast…”
These are not random acts; they are steps in spiritual maturity. Fasting without giving is incomplete. Prayer without generosity lacks substance. Fasting builds compassion—it reminds you of those who have less. It teaches you to release your own desires so you can serve others.
Isaiah 58:7 continues:
“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter?”
The true outcome of fasting is not just answered prayer—it’s a transformed heart that mirrors God’s love for others.
5. The Formula of Hidden Power
So what is the “formula” that unlocks visible blessings from secret obedience? It’s beautifully simple:
1. Give in secret — God sees your heart of generosity.
2. Pray in secret — God hears your heart’s desires.
3. Fast in secret — God tests your heart’s motives.
When these three unite, they form a spiritual cord that cannot be broken. You touch heaven in secret, and heaven touches earth on your behalf.
6. Fasting as a Lifestyle, Not an Event
When I shifted from fasting for weight loss to fasting for spiritual renewal, my entire atmosphere changed. My decisions became clearer. My emotions steadier. My spirit more alert. Fasting became less about skipping meals and more about feeding on God’s presence.
Jesus said in John 4:32,
“I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
That food was doing the will of His Father. Fasting teaches us to live on that same heavenly diet—to be nourished by obedience, strengthened by faith, and satisfied by purpose.
7. What Can We Fast About?
We can fast for many things, but all must point back to aligning with God’s will:
- Direction: Like Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:2, fast to hear God’s next instruction.
- Deliverance: Like Esther, fast for breakthrough and protection.
- Repentance: Like Nineveh, fast to humble yourself and seek mercy.
- Spiritual Strength: Like Jesus in the wilderness, fast to overcome temptation.
- Others: Like Daniel, fast for nations, families, or friends in need.
Whatever the reason, the purpose must be to draw nearer to God and let His power manifest through you.
8. The Open Reward
God’s “open reward” doesn’t always come in the form of money or success—though it can. Sometimes it’s peace that passes understanding, wisdom that brings prosperity, or divine favor that opens doors effortlessly.
When God rewards openly, it means He displays His glory publicly through the life of one who sought Him privately. It is the kind of blessing that makes people say, “Surely, the hand of God is upon her.”
9. Your Fast Can Change Generations
Think of Abraham, who obeyed God privately and became the father of nations. Think of Hannah, who prayed in tears and birthed Samuel, a prophet. Think of you—your obedience today can rewrite your family’s destiny.
Every time you fast, heaven records it. Every act of obedience plants a seed in eternity. And in due season, that seed grows into open reward.
Conclusion: Fasting Is Heaven’s Secret Door
When you fast, heaven notices. When you fast rightly, heaven responds. When you fast consistently, heaven rewards—not just you, but everyone connected to your obedience.
So, fast not to lose weight, but to gain wisdom. Fast not to impress, but to impact. Fast not to manipulate God, but to magnify Him.
And as you do, remember: the Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly.
Because the real secret of fasting is not the hunger of the body—but the hunger of the soul for more of God.
