Realizing the Magnitude of Lent

Even though I grew up in church, I never really hurt much about Lent. This was something others did, not me. As I have matured in my faith, I have come to see the benefits of Lent to my own spiritual journey. Lent serves as a reminder of the 40 days Jesus withdrew to the wilderness; Jesus was tempted while in the wilderness. As Christians, we are invited to celebrate Lent as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. This is a time to reflect on our relationship with God, to practice self-denial (like Christ did), and to give to those who are less fortunate.

Let’ admit it. Life is busy. We fail to truly reflect because we are so caught up in our to-do lists. I mentioned earlier, I am studying Sabbath rest. One of the themes of true Sabbath is drawing near to God. I can sit beside my husband and not be near him. I can be captivated by my own thoughts or other distractions and not be truly mindful of his nearness. We do the same with God. We may even pray and read the Bible, but how often do we reflect on the fact the Creator of all things is with us.

It is my prayer this Lenten season, you will draw near to God. If he is leading you to sacrifice or self-denial during this season, I pray you will obey. He has invited all of us to draw near to him and to reflect on Him. Will you join me in carving out time to do this?