For centuries Christians have observed the season of Lent; it is one of the earliest seasons observed by the Church. Lent is the 40-day period that begins with Ash Wednesday and serves as a way for us to make spiritual pilgrimage towards and through Good Friday so that, when we finally reach Easter Sunday, our celebration can be rich and heartfelt, and full of joy! We have heard from many of you over the last few years how meaningful this season is and has been.
As we come to another Lenten season, along with all of the things we have listed on our Lent Page, we wanted to share a couple of additional ideas and tips to help you fully enter into what the Lord may have for you over the next 40+ days.
As we come to another Lenten season, along with all of the things we have listed on our Lent Page, we wanted to share a couple of additional ideas and tips to help you fully enter into what the Lord may have for you over the next 40+ days.
a Giving Up / a Taking On...
One common Lenten practice is “giving up” something. Perhaps you’ve heard people talk about “giving up” sugar, coffee, or social media, or something like that. The reasons and goals for giving up something for Lent can be multi-layered, but ultimately it is to help foster a growing awareness that our every desire, in one way or another, is a desire for God. Therefore, we give something up, not just to suffer with Christ or to be more disciplined, but so that, as we experience desire for the thing given up, we actively turn to prayer and point our desires towards Him.
And this is where the “taking something on” comes in. In the absence of the thing-given-up, we bring in a new, holy habit to help us intentionally turn more fully to Jesus.
So when we experience the impulse to grab our phones in a moment of boredom, or when we are craving that chocolate bar, we stop and take the desire as a reminder to seek Him and his kingdom first. Perhaps we turn, instead, to reading scripture or simply praying something like,
These kinds of sacrifices and this kind of journey can be transformative.
Two quick notes:
And this is where the “taking something on” comes in. In the absence of the thing-given-up, we bring in a new, holy habit to help us intentionally turn more fully to Jesus.
So when we experience the impulse to grab our phones in a moment of boredom, or when we are craving that chocolate bar, we stop and take the desire as a reminder to seek Him and his kingdom first. Perhaps we turn, instead, to reading scripture or simply praying something like,
“Lord, I want this thing, but I want you more. Draw near to me in this moment and be the living bread that satisfies every hunger, and the living water that satisfies every thirst. This craving I am experiencing right now is for a passing thing - a perishable thing; what I really want (or want to want) is your imperishable goodness.”
These kinds of sacrifices and this kind of journey can be transformative.
Two quick notes:
1. Please don’t give up anything that can be harmful for your health or well-being. The point is not the amount of “suffering” (or as a spiritual way to get your body bathing-suit ready). The point is the Christ-centering of our loves and desires.
2. Traditionally, Sundays are known as “feast days”, meaning that on Sunday - the day we gather to worship together - whatever you have given up you are allowed to partake of again as a foretaste and celebration of the life and freedom that is to come in Him. This is an experience of Good News!
a Bible Reading Plan
Beginning a Bible Reading Plan can be a great thing to do during the season of Lent - especially if you are looking to take on a new holy habit.
Currently, on our Redwood App we are reading through a Bible-in-a-Year plan. Even though we started this on January 1st, feel no pressure to catch up; you can feel free to just jump in beginning with the March 5th reading and carry on from there.
Alternatively, the YouVersion Bible app is full of different reading plans that you can begin at anytime. We recommend the “Lent for Everyone” reading plan by NT Wright that is available for free in the app.
One last encouragement: Reading the Bible by yourself is great. Reading the Bible with one or two other people is even better! Consider doing a reading plan with your family, or finding a friend or two to join in with you and talk about what you are reading together.
Currently, on our Redwood App we are reading through a Bible-in-a-Year plan. Even though we started this on January 1st, feel no pressure to catch up; you can feel free to just jump in beginning with the March 5th reading and carry on from there.
Alternatively, the YouVersion Bible app is full of different reading plans that you can begin at anytime. We recommend the “Lent for Everyone” reading plan by NT Wright that is available for free in the app.
One last encouragement: Reading the Bible by yourself is great. Reading the Bible with one or two other people is even better! Consider doing a reading plan with your family, or finding a friend or two to join in with you and talk about what you are reading together.
a Prayer For Lent
In his book, Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth, Walter Brueggemann offers this prayer for the Lenten season. May the Lord meet us in any and all the ways we enter into these days.
Loss is indeed our gain
The pushing and shoving of the world is endless.
We give you thanks for that mystery from which we live.
Amen.
Loss is indeed our gain
The pushing and shoving of the world is endless.
We are pushed and shoved.
And we do our fair share of pushing and shoving
in our great anxiety.
And in the middle of that
you have set down your beloved suffering son
who was like a sheep led to slaughter
who opened not his mouth.
We seem not able,
so we ask you to create the spaces in our life
where we may ponder his suffering
and your summons for us to suffer with him,
suspecting that suffering is the only way to come to newness.
So we pray for your church in these Lenten days,when we are driven to denial -
not to notice the suffering,
not to engage it,
not to acknowledge it.
So be that way of truth among usthat we should not deceive ourselves.
That we shall see that loss is indeed our gain.We give you thanks for that mystery from which we live.
Amen.
