The season of Lent, ” a time of repentance, fasting, and preparation for the coming of the Easter season. It is a time of self-examination and reflection.”
I didn’t grow up in a church that observed the Church calendar, maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to it.
Or maybe it’s the order and intentionality that I love.
It’s especially true during Lent. Having a season set aside to honestly contemplate exactly what in my life is stealing my freedom, has helped me more than I can tell you.
It takes bravery to ask myself: what specific habits or sin-patterns are keeping me from being the person God intended…keeping me in slavery?
The honest answer to that question brings me such sorrow. And “Godly sorrow brings repentance.”
And repentance is truly what I want.
Because I don’t have all the time in the world. Ash Wednesday reminds me, I will die one day…from dust to dust. I don’t have time to waste on things that steal my focus away from what matters most. Or worse, I don’t have the luxury of time to allow habits to take over and make me more self-focused.
I’m thankful for the Lenton season, time set aside to focus on *my sinfulness before God and *my mortality. I do this with the hope that God will help me let go of those things that aren’t pleasing to Him. Things that are ultimately harmful to me.
I pray that your season of Lent will be meaningful and life changing my friends ~ xo
— In addition to repentance and letting go of lesser things, our church asks that we all pick 1 person to focus our prayers on during the Lenton season—I love the idea…just a thought. —-
Julie Garmon says
March 2, 2017 at 8:19 amBeautiful thoughts. I love the idea of praying/focusing on one person during lent.
Me too–I grew up not understanding lent.
Thank you. I love you~~~
Joy Gwilliam says
March 2, 2017 at 12:09 pmI really like your idea of putting focus on a particular person. What if we did a particular group of people. my brother has just informed me about all the christians that are staying strong in their faith and are being tortured because of it. Precious little children included. What if we put our focus on them this lent season? I feel and say this so they are not forgotten in their teaching us what it is to be a true christian!
Robin says
March 5, 2017 at 3:58 pmI love the idea of a particular group of people Joy…blessings xo
Melinda says
March 2, 2017 at 1:27 pmThank you for your post today. God bless you real good!!
Julie K says
March 2, 2017 at 7:35 pmI love the thought of focusing your prayers on one person. Like you, I also like the order and intentionality of Lent. Such a peace comes over me when I decide what my purpose will be this Lent. Thank you for this beautiful post and have a joyous Lenten season.
Cassandra E says
March 11, 2017 at 10:40 amThank you for these thoughts. I know this post is several days old, but still timely for me. I’ve always had a funny relationship with lent. My birthday falls just after, and I think subconsciously, I felt like lent took away. Just saying that out loud allows transformation. This post makes me long for lent.