2025 Bible Plan: Week 2

In Matthew 6, Jesus highlights three spiritual practices— giving, praying, and fasting—and emphasizes the rewards that come with them. These disciplines are not merely religious rituals or duties; they are profound expressions of faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

When we give, pray, and fast, we are not striving for something through our own effort. Instead, these practices flow from a place of faith—a trust and reliance on God that transforms these actions into something truly powerful. They are not works done to earn His favor but works that proceed from faith, making them an expression of our pursuit of Him.

Faith as the Foundation

Abraham, the father of faith, understood this truth deeply. When God appeared to him, Abraham declared, “You are my exceedingly great reward” (Genesis 15:1). Abraham recognized that the ultimate reward was not material blessings, breakthroughs, or answers to prayers, but God Himself.

The same is true for us today. Every New Covenant reality— every breakthrough, every promise of God—is accessed by grace through faith. And faith without works is dead (James 2:17). But here’s the key: the works that matter, the works that bear fruit, are those that proceed from faith, not precede it.

The Danger of Striving

When we engage in giving, praying, or fasting without faith— when these acts precede faith—they become empty striving. Striving comes from our own effort to earn something or manipulate outcomes. This kind of effort produces nothing because it is disconnected from God’s grace and power.

However, when these acts are fueled by faith, they align with God’s Spirit. They become works born of the Spirit, not the flesh, and they lead us to the greatest reward of all: HIM.

The Reward of Faith-Filled Giving, Praying, and Fasting

1. Giving: When we give from a place of faith, we reflect God’s own generosity. It’s not about earning His favor or approval but about trusting Him as our provider. Jesus assures us in Matthew 6:3–4 that the Father, who sees in secret, will reward us openly.
2. Praying: Faith-filled prayer is not a ritual but a conversation with God, born out of relationship and trust. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus promises that the Father, who hears our secret prayers, will reward us openly. This reward isn’t just answers to our prayers but the intimacy we gain with God through prayer.
3. Fasting: Fasting without faith becomes a mere act of deprivation, but fasting with faith is an act of dependence on God. It positions us to hear from Him, to draw closer, and to align our desires with His. In Matthew 6:17–18, Jesus reminds us that God sees our fasting done in secret and rewards us.

The Greatest Reward

Ultimately, the reward for giving, praying, and fasting is not just the blessings or breakthroughs we might experience but God Himself. These acts of faith draw us closer to Him, allowing us to experience His presence, His peace, and His power in deeper ways.

Every breakthrough, every spiritual reality we long for, is accessed by grace through faith. When our giving, praying, and fasting flow from faith, they lead us into the reward of Him—the exceedingly great reward that Abraham cherished.

So as you practice these spiritual disciplines, let them flow from a heart of faith, a heart that pursues Him above all else. For the greatest reward is not what God gives, but who He is.