A Season of Lent
We find ourselves nearing the beginning of Lent. Forty days, plus six Sundays, set apart to remind us why we need a savior and to refocus our attention on the God of the universe.
This Wednesday, February 14, marks the first day of Lent, which will last until Thursday, March 28, or Saturday, March 30, depending on various church traditions.
The intention of Lent is to commit 40 days reflecting on our need for a savior. Lent, like Advent, is not prescribed in scripture but rather is a practice that the church established long ago to help God's people remember. And as we've seen throughout scripture, the practice of remembering takes work, as it seems we are prone to forget.
Many choose to fast during Lent, whether from particular foods or from items like social media, television, or anything that might be a distraction, while intentionally digging into scripture, prayer, and time set apart with God. While fasting is a beautiful way to increase our dependence on God, it isn't just about giving something up but about transforming our hearts.
In Jeremiah 2, God speaks through Jeremiah to the people in Jerusalem. In verse 13, he says, "My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
Not only did God's people walk away from him - THE LIVING WATER - they decided they could do a better job supplying their own needs by digging their own cisterns. Cisterns that couldn't even hold water and would never compare to the fullness of what God had offered. They chased after idols while ignoring their creator. How often do we forget that God is our living water? With him, there is no lack, yet we often try to do life disconnected from the source.
This year, during Lent, I am going to read through the book of Luke. If you want to join me, I plan to read 3 to 4 chapters a week for seven weeks. I'm looking forward to diving into Luke's account of Jesus.
One beautiful detail about Lent is that the six Sundays leading to Easter are considered days of celebration. Days to glimpse the joy of Easter. Days to rejoice that we have a savior. Days of feasting together.
This year, I'm hoping to be more intentional with these days of celebration. I'm not sure exactly how they will look yet, but I want them to feel extravagant.
How about you? Is Lent a part of your annual rhythm? If so, what will it look like this year?
~ Melissa