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Scriptures Referenced

13. Practice secret disciplines (giving, praying, fasting)—Matthew 6:1-18 
Matthew 6:1-18 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Giving to the Poor and Prayer
1 “Be [very] careful not to do your [a]good deeds publicly,
to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward
[prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven.

2 “So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, 
do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], 
as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues
and in the streets, so that they may be honored and 
recognized and praised by men. I assure you and 
most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.

3 But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, 
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing
[give in complete secrecy], 

4 so that your charitable acts will be done in secret;
and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.

5 “Also, when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; 
for they love to pray [publicly] standing in the synagogues
and on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men.
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, 
they [already] have their reward in full.

6 But when you pray, go into your most private room, 
close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret,
and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition 
as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard 
because of their many words.

8 So do not be like them [praying as they do]; 
for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

9 “Pray, then, [b]in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our [f]daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our [g]debts, as we have forgiven our debtors
[letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].
13 ‘And do not [h]lead us into temptation, but deliver us from [i]evil.
[j][For Yours is the kingdom and the power and
the glory forever. Amen.]’
4 For if you forgive [k]others their trespasses
[their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. 

15 But if you do not forgive others
[nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that 
it interferes with your relationship with God], 
then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.

Fasting, The True Treasure, Wealth (Mammon)
16 “And whenever you are fasting,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites,
for they put on a sad and dismal face [like actors, 
discoloring their faces with ashes or dirt] 
so that their fasting may be seen by men.
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, 
they [already] have their reward in full. 

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head 
[as you normally would to groom your hair] and wash your face 

18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by people,
but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees
[what is done] in secret will reward you.