The Power Of The Hidden Life
Discover the power of the hidden life on how prayer, giving, & fasting transform your faith, build a deeper relationship with God, & produce spiritual fruit
Listening vs. Obeying
In spiritual life, there is a crucial difference between hearing and doing. It is one thing to listen, and another to obey. Many people listen to teachings, sermons, and wisdom, yet their lives remain unchanged because the words never move beyond their ears. In the teachings of Gospel of Matthew—particularly in chapter 6—we encounter part of the famous Sermon on the Mount. This sermon is not merely inspirational speech; it carries the power to transform the inner life. It calls people away from empty performance and toward genuine obedience. True transformation begins when listening turns into action. The hidden life with God grows not through knowledge alone, but through faithful response.
When Religion Becomes Performance
By the time of Jesus Christ, religion had largely become about appearance. Many leaders were focused on appearing holy rather than being holy. Their spirituality was public, visible, and impressive—but often shallow. Jesus challenged this mindset directly. Instead of admiring charisma, status, or public recognition, he gave a different standard: “You will recognize them by their fruit.” Fruit represents the real evidence of a transformed life—character, humility, compassion, and faithfulness. A person’s true spiritual life is revealed not by their stage presence but by the everyday evidence of their actions. In every generation, people can be tempted to confuse visibility with authenticity. But the kingdom of God operates on a different measure.
The Quiet Practices That Change the World
Jesus highlighted three spiritual practices that quietly shape both individuals and the world: giving, prayer, and fasting. Giving changes the world because it loosens our grip on possessions and directs resources toward love and justice. Prayer changes the world because it aligns our hearts with God’s purposes. Fasting changes the world because it reminds us that our deepest need is not physical satisfaction but spiritual dependence. However, Jesus insisted that there is both a right way and a wrong way to practice these disciplines. When they are done for applause, they lose their spiritual power. When they are done in humility, they transform the soul. These practices belong to what can be called the hidden life—the spiritual reality that develops away from the spotlight.
The Power of the Hidden Life
The hidden life is not about disappearing from the world. It is about cultivating a private relationship with God that sustains everything else. A healthy hidden life means intentionally going to a safe place with God—a place of prayer, reflection, and honesty. It is a removal from the public scene in order to be renewed. This is different from unhealthy hiding. Unhealthy hiding withdraws from life, isolates from people, and avoids responsibility. The hidden life, by contrast, strengthens us so that we can re-enter the world with purpose. The hidden moments—small prayers, quiet gatherings, unseen acts of kindness—often carry the greatest spiritual power. Jesus also promised that God is present in even the smallest gatherings: “Where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.”
Prayer: Building Relationship with God
One of the most fascinating teachings in Matthew 6 is that God already knows what we need. Yet he still insists that we pray. Why? Because prayer is not merely about informing God—it is about forming relationship. Prayer shapes us. It changes our perspective. It prepares our hearts to carry out God’s will. When we pray, we become people who are more attentive, compassionate, and aligned with divine purposes. Similarly, fasting expresses the idea that we need God more than we need food. It is a physical reminder that spiritual hunger is deeper than physical hunger. Through these hidden practices, our lives slowly become transformed from the inside out.
Living the Hidden Life in a Public World
Today’s world has striking similarities to the world of Jesus. Many realities remain hidden, yet platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok encourage people to present their best, most polished selves. The temptation is the same as it was centuries ago: to perform spirituality rather than live it. But the hidden life calls us to something deeper. Instead of constantly looking down—at our phones, our anxieties, or our self-image—we are invited to look up. When we look up, God begins to reveal things to us: opportunities to help someone who is falling, moments to show compassion, and ways to live out our faith authentically. Every time we lift our eyes, we begin to see the world through God’s perspective. The hidden life may never gain applause or attention. Yet it is in those quiet moments—when no one else sees—that real spiritual power is formed.
