Lent – what’s the big deal?
Lent…
Growing up (in the church, I might add) I had never heard of this season. Not once. I remember the first time I ever heard of it – and of someone giving something up for it. I was a sophmore in college – yeah, like I said, I had never heard of it.
So what is the big deal about this thing called Lent?
Well, recent study has shown me that there actually is a big deal about it… and it all comes down to the heart.
The season of Lent is a season of preparation – preparing your heart and mind for Easter. The 40 day period was chosen (in part) due to the 40 day period that Jesus spent in the desert before beginning His earthly ministry. There are also other periods of preperation lasting 40 days in the Bible – it rained for 40 days & 40 nights and created a flood to cleanse the world, Moses stayed on the mountain of God 40 days, the spies were sent into the promised land for 40 days, and Elijah travelled 40 days to reach the cave where he had his vision, just to name a few.
So how do we use this time? We pray – or we should. It is a time to truly look at our lives and see if there is anything holding us back from the best that God has for us. The things that people “give up for Lent” are (usually) not bad things – they are good things, however they may find that these things hold them back from the better and best that God wants for them. De-cluttering our lives and minds from these things and devoting extra time to prayer helps us to see this.
So why fasting?
Well, fasting is very biblical. Jesus said “When you fast…” not “if”. God calls us to fast on occasion to draw our focus to Him. Again, removing something from our lives can help us have a greater appreciation for it when it returns. Ash Wednesday is traditionally a day of fasting, as are the 6 Fridays in Lent. Sundays, however, are excluded from Lent, as they are a day of celebration for what God has done, namely conquering the grave and bringing us salvation.
This season helps re-align our focus – feeling the pangs of hunger and not allowing yourself to partake of something you enjoy for a short season helps us to focus in on our need – our need for God’s grace and the salvation that Jesus brought through the cross.
Taking the time that you would usually spend eating or watching tv or whatever your “thing” is that you give up for a season is beneficial in that you will draw closer to God – and that is never a bad thing!
I have never taken part in Lent before, however this year I will be. I will have days that I fast, days that I spend that extra time in prayer, and I will be giving up something that is fun – but not a necessity to life. And I will be spending that 20-30 minutes a day (or longer) that I used to spend on that and giving it to God. After all, I’m sure He has a better use for it that I was putting it to!
I’m looking forward to this time – to the opportunity to walk through a period of suffering with Jesus, to draw closer to Him, and to more deeply appreciate the celebration of Easter.
How about you? Is Lent a part of your life? If not, is it something you have ever considered?
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