It’s the first day of Lent. Ash Wednesday.
For Christians, Lent is the 40 days before Easter Sunday. It was originally designed to be an act of fasting, repentance, and spiritual discipline like Jesus did in the wilderness, while also reflecting on the suffering and sacrifice Jesus did on the cross for our salvation and the eternal joy of resurrection to new life.
It’s a holy experience where we choose to deliberately reflect on all that Jesus did for you and for me. A way to reflect is to take part in the life, heart and soul of Jesus and practice the way He lived. And maybe when we practice for 40 days it becomes a habit.
So, the next 40 days will you practice with me?
Practice sacred time with Father God like Jesus did in the late and early dark mornings and night hours
Practice not giving in to temptations like Jesus did in the wilderness for 40 days.
Practice simplicity like homeless Jesus did as he trusted God to provide.
Practice kindness like Jesus did when he looked people in the eye and listened to their story.
Practice generosity like Jesus did when he gave all he had.
Practice intentionality like Jesus did when he spent time, conversations, laughs and cries with his disciples.
Practice suffering like Jesus did when he saw others suffering.
Practice desire like Jesus did when he longed for everyone to have a personal relationship with God…and did something about it.
Practice grief like Jesus did when he was deeply troubled and cried to Abba to taken away the awful hours ahead as he foreknew he’d be in extreme pain and dying on a cross.
Practice sacrifice like Jesus did giving himself as an offering to God for the sake of others.
The next six weeks, may you practice Lent in a way that can become a habit or rhythm so you can experience God in a resurrected way.
Beth