Love God

    Practice Secret Devotion

    Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you fast, do not look somber, like the hypocrites, for they mark their faces to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you

    Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

    Jesus took the three great acts of devotion in his day, giving, prayer, and fasting, and moved all three off the stage and into the secret place.

    The same act can feed your soul or your image, and the audience decides which. Done for applause, it is fully paid on the spot. Done in secret, it is seen by the Father, and what he sees in secret he rewards.

    Do one act of devotion this week that no one can possibly find out about. Give anonymously, pray behind a shut door, fast without mentioning it. Let secrecy purify the motive.