Don’t miss the free download at the end.
The season of Lent began on Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) and will last for forty days until Easter Sunday. It is a length of time recognized by the global church as part of the Christian calendar that calls us to walk alongside Christ as he began his ministry and made his way to the cross.
What is the Meaning of Lent?
The word ‘lent’ originates from the Anglo-Saxon word lencton which alludes to the coming of springtime where life emerges from hibernation and begins the awakening process into new life. It speaks volumes about the nature of why we engage in the Lenten experience—We begin lent remembering our mortality on Ash Wednesday and emerge from the desert experience of Lent at Easter where we are transformed into new living creatures redeemed by Christ; it is a beautiful metamorphic season for the Church.
There are three main spiritual focuses during Lent that were established by the early church in order to grow in our faith and understanding of Christ, draw nearer to God in relationship and to be the arms and feet of Christ through loving other. The three themes are : Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving (or giving to the poor). These can be practiced in many variations, but remember, the heart of their purpose is to become less so that Christ can become more in us. They are also reflective of Christ as he went to the desert to be in union with this father in prayer and fasting, and of his sacrificial giving as he set out to fulfill God’s will.
Lent is Both Personal and Communal
Lent may be new to you, or a season you engage in annually, but I hope you simply remember Lent is a season centered on developing our spiritual lives individually and corporately. There is no wrong or right way to “do” Lent. Simply consider what ways you’d like there to be transformation, repentance, or healing in your life and lean into ways that draw you nearer to God. He promises to make all things new and Lent leads us on a journey to the fulfillment of that promise for ourselves and our community.
Lent may feel like a very internal journey of faith, but I encourage you to engage with Lenten practices with another person or family member, perhaps a church group, or the larger church community. Lent is as much personal as it is a corporate practice; Christians around the globe participate in this liturgical season. As much as it is a desert experience where we draw away to draw nearer to God, we also experience God in community amongst our family and Lent leads to the foundation of where the Church came to exist, the Cross, where we all gather and are unified.
Free Lenten Download
40 Words for the 40 Days of Lent
Similar to the Advent word journaling practice, this download is a list of 40 words focused on the Lenten journey with Christ. Instructions are provided in the download. I’m a bit late getting this posted, but you can start anytime. The intention is to consider what this word brings to mind, how it is reflected in scripture or through the life and teaching of Christ and spend time journaling about this, writing scripture, drawing, writing poetry or whatever God stirs in your heart that draws you into deeper communion with him throughout Lent.
If you would like more information about Lent or how to engage in Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving, send me a message below in the Contact Me section. I’d be happy to help you in your journey this season.
Wednesday was the first time I had ash in the shape of a cross placed on my forehead.
Beth-the one thing that our(my) family did other than I go to services every Wednesday was we never ate meat on Good Friday! I also raised my two daughters that way ( but if they kept it up or not I don’t know. But this was brought down by my grandmother and her parents from Germany! It might seem very little but let me tell you that the one day is harder than if you did it every Friday. Just thought I would tell Ethan little thing that I grew up with in my home .