Fasting Principles: Washing thy face

“But thou, when thou fastest, annoint thine head, & wash thy face”

- Matthew 6:17

World renown boxer & activist Mohammed Ali is said to have abstained from sex for up to six weeks leading up to a boxing match. This is in the mindset that through his abstinence, there was an excessive amount of testosterone building up in his body; feeding into his aggression & pushing him to a higher performance level in the boxing ring.

Now at the first thought of abstaining six weeks from sex, I’m sure there’s countless men who would dismiss the idea without even the consideration. But having heard of his abstinence rooted in purpose of building up his inner-man, there are some among the countless that would at least hold to the understanding of WHY he’s abstained. This is the workings of a remission mindset, that it changes the perspective of a thing toward encouragement of a spiritual work. & this is what it means to “wash thy face”, that we take the “disfigured face” & make it recognizable countenance, or rather relatable.

Ask yourself, What is relatable?

For example in countenance, we have the appearance of an athlete, (which is relatable to most men I would think). & with this in mind, we have related precept saying:

”& every athlete that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown: but we an incorruptible.” - 1 Corinthians 9:25

& So this becomes our remission mindset, our “why” reason (purpose), & our relatability. This is what it looks like to “wash thy face”. That we run with sincerity toward our purpose, & not as if uncertain in our own reason. Keeping in mind that uncertainty of a shadow work reflects itself as un-recognized behavior. The calling is that we always understand why we “keep under the body” & “bring it into subjection”. That it’s a discipline the body needs to build that enduring character. The Athlete.