We’ve officially entered the Lenten season this week, that 40-day period (excluding Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Resurrection Sunday. In many Christian traditions, Lent is a corporate season of fasting and prayerful reflection on Jesus’ atoning work on the cross and glorious resurrection from the dead. While we don’t usually have a particular churchwide focus for Lent, I think it’s worthwhile for us as individuals to approach this Lenten season with spiritual intentionality. We don’t want to become legalistic or pursue dead traditionalism, but there is a healthy place for spiritual disciplines like fasting and self-denial that can help us focus our attention on the Lord and increase our reliance upon Him. If you’re looking for ideas, here’s a few:
- Read the Passion narratives in Matthew 21–27, Mark 11–15, Luke 19–23, or John 12–19.
- Listen to music inspired by Jesus’ cross work. My current favorites are Andrew Peterson’s Resurrection Letters Anthology and Chris Tomlin’s Love Ran Red.
- Practice self-denial through fasting or portion control, reorienting your frustrated appetites into prayerful desire for the God who satisfies our souls.
- Fast from social media to refocus attention on Jesus.
- Limit your screen time to tend to your soul.
- Begin journaling prayerful reflections on Scripture.
- Focus on quiet acts of generosity.
- Begin and end each day with God’s Word and prayer.
Choose your own adventure! But let me urge you to not let Holy Week take you by surprise. We’re so busy and caught up in our routines, it takes real intentionality to cultivate the spiritual side of our lives. Lent is a gift if we receive it into our busy lives. It’s an opportunity to prepare our hearts for the wonders of what Christ has done through His life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension on our behalf. For indeed, we are loved, more than we know!
