What is Lent and why should we celebrate it? 

Lent is a 40-day period starting on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Saturday, during which Christians prepare their hearts for Easter, and draw near to God through the practices of prayer, fasting, and giving. Like Jesus fasting in the desert for 40 days, or Moses being with God on Mount Sinai for 40 days, the 40 days of Lent are a physical reminder to draw near to God.

The aim of this journey is not to induce feelings of guilt when you are not able to get to all the suggested elements and steps of each day. If you do skip a day, simply continue on the following day.

“Lent isn’t about giving something up: it’s about growing closer to God.”

There are 3 practices that Christians have used for generations which can help you draw near to God, reflected in the 3 pillars of Lent mentioned above.

1) Prayer during Lent

Many people think Lent is just about giving something up, so they pick something to abstain from randomly.  But if the purpose of Lent is to help us draw near to God, we need to be intentional and thoughtful.

Prayer can help us do that. You can use this prayer to help invite God into your Lenten season.

God, you are above and below me, around and beside me. And yet, I often feel far from you. Please open my eyes to the things that keep me from you. If there is something in particular that you want me to give up this season, please show me. Convict me and guide me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As you/your family journey through the lenten season, use the time from what you are giving up to pray, read the Bible and listen to God.

2) Fasting during Lent

Sometimes I depend on a sugary snack or extra coffee instead of spending some time in prayer during my mid-afternoon slump; Lent reminds me how easily it is to depending on something else before God.

What is something you notice yourself easily doing these days? Is it eating sweets, scrolling through social media, or buying too much while shopping? Is it complaining, fighting with your family or spending too much time on a certain app.

Whatever it is, it’s an opportunity for you to sacrifice that and trust God in a deeper way to meet your needs and desires.

Because every Sunday is a mini-resurrection celebration, Sundays aren’t included in the 40 days (which is why it’s actually 46 days)! You can’t fast on resurrection day!! So if you choose something extreme to fast from, remember that you can still participate in this activity on Sundays.

For example, one family actually fasted from ALL shopping during Lent. They did all their grocery shopping on Sundays. A friend gave up chocolate last year for lent, and was thankful she could enjoy it on Sundays.

Again, if you’d like to fast from something during Lent, I encourage you to do it prayerfully.

Here are a few suggestions of meaningful things to give up for Lent:

 Give up complaining

 Give up sugar or dessert

 Give up social media, YouTube or certain apps

 Give up shopping

 Give up fast food

 Give up meat

 Give up sleeping in

The point of sacrificing something important is to remember that God wants to be the most important aspect of our lives.

3) Giving during Lent

As you/your family give up something during lent, you will likely have extra (time/money/etc.), consider offering that extra in generous and unique ways that you may not do in other seasons of the year.

• Kids don’t typically have much money for giving but you can encourage to give in other ways: It could be a smile, a compliment or something they already have.
• Give the money you would spend on fast food or fancy drinks  to church or a specific charity. (Like one of Restoration’s mission partners like MENA or Every Meal.)
• Set up an automatic withdrawal from your bank account for a worthy organization.
• Give your time to serve anonymously in an unusual way.
• Do several random acts of kindness as a family.
• When it’s all put together, prayer, fasting, and giving can create an experience where you draw closer to God.
• Just a reminder, none of this is necessary to believe and follow Jesus. You don’t get “heaven points” for praying more or giving something up to celebrate Lent but it can help you experience God in new and amazing new ways!

Sometimes Lent isn’t actually about giving up something physical, but about giving TIME to the Lord. Is there a time slot in your day that you could give your attention to God?

Ash Wednesday

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, Ash Wednesday is a day to remember God’s holiness and our sinfulness. Recognizing this ought to lead us to repentance (which is the turning away from sin).

In the Bible, repentance was sometimes a very obvious act, when people would rip their clothes and wear something called sackcloth, and cover themselves with ashes.

Most people don’t repent quite so…dramatically these days, but will often go to special church service where a pastor or priest draws a cross on their forehead with ashes.

READ: Genesis 2:4-9, Genesis 3:19, and Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬.

Lent is a season for each of us to sit in ash. To lament in our brokenness. To let go of what keeps us from a life with God. To choose not to continue with life as usual. To wait while growth takes place in us. And to be still, so that God can do His work within us.

Practice:

Take some time to prepare a space and time for prayer and during Lent. Also, talk to God about can prepare yourself for Lent:

• What would you like to do less of, perhaps fast from during this time?
• What would you like to do more of, perhaps take up a spiritual practice that is life-giving to you? 
• What would you like to ask the Lord for in this coming season?

Prayer: Lord God, give me the grace to accept that I am dust and the grace to be aware of your presence.