“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing… But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen… But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face.” – Matthew 6:3, 6, 17 (NIV)
In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches about three powerful spiritual disciplines—giving, prayer, and fasting—not as isolated acts but as an intertwined “three-strand cord” of spiritual strength. Each discipline alone is transformative, but when practiced together, they create a synergy that deepens our relationship with God and aligns us with His purposes. Giving detaches us from materialism and selfishness, directing our hearts toward generosity and trust in God’s provision.
Prayer cultivates intimacy with the Father, allowing us to align our desires with His will and receive divine guidance. Fasting, the often-neglected discipline, humbles the flesh, heightens spiritual sensitivity, and clears distractions, enabling deeper dependence on God. Jesus emphasizes that these acts should not be done for public recognition but in secret, where the Father, who sees all, rewards openly (Matthew 6:4, 6, 18).
Together, they represent a holistic surrender—giving affects how we relate to others, prayer affects how we relate to God, and fasting affects how we relate to ourselves. This threefold practice draws us closer to the heart of God, breaks spiritual strongholds, and releases divine breakthrough.
Like Ecclesiastes 4:12 states, “A threefold cord is not quickly broken,” so too, when giving, prayer, and fasting are woven together, they form an unshakable foundation of faith that withstands trials and invites the power of God into every area of our lives.
Heavenly Father, as we conclude our 21 days of prayer and fasting in the coming week, may we experience the full power of the three-strand cord of giving, prayer, and fasting, in Jesus’ name!
