As we enter the season of lent, Christian tradition calls us to a season of repentance and taking an honest look at ourselves. What in our lives needs to look more like Jesus? Lent over the years has encouraged believers to take a step back out of the ebb & flow of daily life and seek to see things with a new, more Christlike perspective. Many deny themselves usual comforts in effort to focus instead on Jesus. Many fast things from food to television as a way to spend more time in prayer. Above all, God calls us to a season of intentional focus on Him.
Here are some recommended scriptures: Psalm 103, Joel 2, Isaiah 58, 2 Corinthians 5 & 6, and Matthew 6.
Forum for Posting: What is God calling you to this season of lent?
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6 comments:
So this year is going to be the first year that I make a Lenten commitment and stick to it. After much deliberation I have decided to fast from the two C’s…caffeine and carbonation. This means no soda of any kind and only decaf coffee or tea. It has only been a few short days and I already have been tried many times. There is nothing more difficult than being trapped in a room for six hours while a sleek two liter bottle of delectable Diet Coke stares back at me just begging to be opened. I remained strong, but that was my first real test of dedication. At this point the only thing that will get me through this Lenten season will be a vast amount of prayer and a forty day supply of sugar free Kool-Aid.
-J
i think where i'm at right now with lent is just coming to a place where i let go of my continual need to figure things out (such as circumstances, the future...). this is a trend with me over the past few years and it's as though God's letting me know i just need to take my hands off and let Him do what He'd like, instead. for this season, and hopefully beyond, i am committing to letting God shed away all the crud in me that's getting in the way of what He wants to do in me. my expectations need to take a back seat. i feel like God's asking me to finally just be humble and obedient and willing to let Him do what He'd like. i have no idea what this means but i'm excited to see where this journey leads.
This year for Lent I think I am giving up web-surfing and all non-school-related reading while at work/school. Technically it is alright, I'm not neglecting my responsibilities or anything, but I do get distracted a lot and take longer than I need to for some projects. I've been thinking a lot about Col 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men". There is more to that chapter, about not lying, putting off anger and malice, living in peace, and things like that, but verse 23 I know by heart, and I don't follow it at all. I'm not being a good example of Christianity for other people at all, and I need to change that. I may get a little bored, but I have a pocket Bible to read during lunch, and hopefully, I'll become a more productive person :-)
I am especially looking forward to this Lenten season both for personal renewal and corporate renewal for us as a church. Personally, I have decided not to give up TV (with the LOTR party and all) and give up all things Apple. This means no ipod use, no checking apple's website for useless news, no Apple purchases, etc. The only Apple brand that I can use is my always necessary macbook. I am hoping this will allow some perspective to come back to my life.
Corporately, I am praying for a "revival." That is an old-fashioned word, but I am just asking God do something incredible. For the church to grow, for us to clarify the vision even further, to see new Christians, for people to get excited about what God is going. I think it is going to be a great Lent!
This week has been difficult in regards to my Lenten commitment. It has made me realize just how dependent to soda both my body and mind have become. I have suffered headaches and lack of energy not to mention the number of times I have thought, “What I wouldn’t give for a Diet Coke right now”. I am truly humbled when I realize that I am ‘suffering’ over something as simple as a beverage when this entire season is to remember the true suffering of Christ for my own salvation. Overall, this week has helped put Lent into perspective as well as opening my eyes to the true depths my dependency runs in my life.
I have a confession to make: I made an apple related purchase during Lent. It was a deal I couldn't pass up. Reading the thoughts/reflections in this blog have helped deepen my understanding of Lent. I used to think I was a revolutionary Nazarene because I was a Lent advocate. However, my understanding was limited to giving something up. Lent became more about what I had given up than what I was doing to fill up.
This Lenten season my non-apple commitment has not gone by the way-side, but has been brought into a larger perspective of these "40 days of purpose." Thanks for helping me grow.
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