What Will You Give Up for Lent?
Over the past few years, I have started the practice of giving something up for Lent. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (this year February 17th) and end with Easter Sunday. It spans a total of 40 days and is often thought as a parallel to Jesus’ “testing” in the wildness. The observance of lent is not a custom that Baptist’s tend to place a high priority, but I have found the during the season of Lent, fasting from something gives me time to reflect on my life spiritually in new and fresh ways. Giving something up give me time for serious, disciplined self-examination, a time spent in intensive prayer and repentance before the cross of Calvary.
Here are some reflective questions that can be used during this time:
- Am I sharing gladly what I have with others, especially the stranger and the poor?
- Do I have a gracious and patient attitude with others, especially those who irritate me?
- Do I feel the power of connection to God and the church in corporate worship?
- How is my devotional and prayer life progressing? Am I listening to God more and complaining less? Is it time for a change or a growth in my Bible study and prayer life?
- What are the lurking sin problems, which still plague me?
- Am I as thoughtful and forgiving of family as others, or do I take my frustrations out on them?
- Do I speak up for the maligned and oppressed, or do I remain silent in order to remain popular?
I want to challenge each of you to step outside your comfort zone and try fasting from something this Lenten Season. It can be a meal, it can be a certain food, it can be a habit of some type. It could be TV or listening to music…you must be creative with your approach to this fasting period. I would just caution you to chose something that will make an impact on you…not something that would be extremely easy, but something that would make you think about having to do something different.
If you would like to participate in this fasting, I would like to pray for you. Just click here and send me an email. I won’t make your decision known to anyone else, but will make a commitment to pray for you during this time of spiritual renewal in your life. So take the challenge…and begin with me on February 17th pursuing a more passionate relationship with Jesus Christ!
Pastor Greg