3 Questions to Consider before Lent Begins

I never observed Lent in my life. As a kid, I didn’t know what Lent was, and my understanding as a young adult wasn’t much deeper.

We had Fat Tuesday parties in college, and not many years after, I attended an Ash Wednesday service. I wrote a popular devotional for families to engage with Jesus during Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. But for some reason, Lent was never on my radar. 

A few years ago, God pressed the idea of Lent so heavily on my heart, I couldn’t shake the push. After the first 30 seconds of my google search on Lent, I knew, Lent is for me.

“Lent is a season of the Christian Year where Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God.”

And isn’t that exactly what I want? The exact thing I’ve been craving? Simple living, prayer, fasting so I can grow closer to God? My journal holds page after page of prayers crying out, less of me and so. much. more of you, Jesus! 

“Are you searching for something more? Tired of running in circles, but not really living life with direction, purpose or passion? It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the drama of classes, relationships, family, and work. Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ. We try to fill the emptiness inside us with mindless TV, meaningless chatter, stimulants, alcohol, too many activities or other irrelevant stuff. We run away from life and from God.” (source, emphasis mine)

I don’t want to run away; I want to run toward.

I don’t want to disconnect from relationships, avoid pain, and live a detached life. I want to engage, seek out, fall forward, and give away. I’m tired of living distracted, living selfish, living numb. I want the full, free life that is already mine in Christ Jesus. I want forgiveness and joy and generosity. I want more Jesus. 

So these next 40 days? That is my pursuit. Jesus. Just give me Jesus. Do you want to join me?

I don’t know what that will look like here on the blog or on my IG or FB feeds. But I can commit to pursuing Jesus, and I will share as He leads.

3 Questions to Consider before Lent Begins

As I prepare my heart for Wednesday when Lent begins, I’m asking myself 3 questions. Will you prayerfully answer these questions, too?

• Where will you say no? {What will you withhold?} —>What is distracting you from God? Is it TV, books, your planner, social media, your phone? What is it for you? Do you have the courage and the faith to go without that thing for the next 40 days? What do you need to let go of, withhold or say “no” to in order to focus on God? What are the activities, attitudes, or obligations that clutter your calendar and life?
• Where will you say yes? {What will you contribute?}  —> What can you take on for Christ these next 40 days? Where have you struggled to be a “doer” of the Word and not just a “hearer”? Maybe it’s time to serve at your church or collect food for the food pantry. Maybe it’s blessing a stranger with a random act of kindness in the name of Jesus every day of Lent or maybe it’s being present, purposeful and engaged at home with your husband or your children. Where can your love take action these next 40 days?
• How will you pray? For many, Lent is a time of intentional prayer. How will you grow in your prayer life over these next 40 days? Maybe it’s committing to a time of prayer every day. Maybe it’s praying intentionally for your kids or for your husband. Maybe during your prayer time you can listen more and talk less or commit to praying with people once a day rather than just asking how you can pray. Pick up a prayer book or read Scriptures on prayer — but don’t neglect to pray.

I know life is busy, but can we slow together? We have to choose. We have to purpose. We have to start somewhere. Maybe now is the time. I just want more Jesus. You too?