Yesterday was Ash Wednesday which marked the beginning of the Lenten season. The United Methodist Church describes Lent this way:
During Lent, we enter into a season of preparation, self-reflection and repentance when we seek to literally “turn around” and realign our lives and focus toward God. It is a time to give up things as well as take on new life-giving practices, helping us rid ourselves of distractions and our own selfish desires. By doing so, we seek to live and love as more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
You can check out the page I took that quote from here.
Lent is a penitential season (thus the ‘turning around’) and is a time when historically, the church has fasted. So, why do I participate in Lenten fasting and prayer? Here are three reasons.
First: I need to prepare and focus.
The rhythms of the Christian Liturgical year are tremendously helpful to me personally. In my devotional life, I use different prayer books that use the prayers of the church, and these holy seasons of the church stand out. The prayers are different. The readings are different. They help me to prepare for Easter and to focus on my dependence upon God. I have found that personally, I can better receive the joy and hope of Easter and the forgiveness offered therein, when I am intentional about preparing my heart to do so.
Second: I need to set aside
I need to set aside time. This goes back to the rhythms of the liturgical year. It is helpful for me to have times of feasting and fasting, because it breaks up the monotony of the daily grind. Life is busy. If I am not intentional about setting aside time to focus on Christ in different ways, then it probably won’t happen. Also, I need to set aside some things by fasting. Most of my fasts have been from food. I have fasted various lengths of time from a day at a time, to fasting 6 out of the 7 days a week. I have given up internet use not related to work. I have given up television. All of these things are not an end in and of themselves, but rather I find out how dependent I am on things that are not God. There is something about fasting that opens my eyes to my own idolatry. Fasting helps me remember that my stomach is not my god, but instead that Christ is.
Finally: I love Easter
The main reason I observe Lent is because I love Easter. Lent sets up Easter for me. I prepare during Lent so that I can fully receive the good news of Easter. I have found that observing Lenten disciplines helps me better live into Easter. It is, after all, the best news ever, and after an extended season of acknowledging my need for it, that news sounds that much more glorious.
Whatever your reasons for observing Lent whatever way you do, I hope that this season is a time of growth for you in your faith, and that you grow in your knowledge of the love of God in Christ Jesus.