The season of Lent gives Christians an opportunity to make space in their busy lives to contemplate the scope of God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, and the wonder of the resurrection. One of the spiritual practices that people participate in during Lent to help them stay focused on the cross is to give up something. Fasting or giving up a favorite food like chocolate has been a common practice as well as giving up something one truly enjoys such as social media. These are indeed helpful means to make Lent a time of spiritual reflection.
But I read a quote this week that gave me pause. Author Alicia Britt Chole in her book “40 Days of Decrease” says, “Faith, in general, is less about the sacrifice of stuff and more about the surrender of our souls. Lent, in kind, is less about well-mannered denials and more about thinning our lives in order to thicken our communion with God.” That got me to thinking what if instead of giving up things, we used the season of Lent to give up some part of our character that does not reflect the character of God? What if we “fasted” from things like pride, self-centeredness, anger, judgmentalism, unforgiveness, fear, lack of contentment…?
As we surrender those things to God, we can open our hearts and minds to the true wonder of the scope of God’s love and be drawn into a deeper relationship with Him. Our minds will have space to be filled with a renewed sense of awe at the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Our souls will rejoice at the hope of the resurrection. It will be a different way to experience Lent.
How ever the Spirit leads you to draw closer to God this Lent, may you be filled with a renewed sense of awe and wonder as you surrender your soul to the One who loves you and died for you. May you have a deeper communion with God and may your gratitude for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ exponentially grow.
Classis Prayer Coordinator
Classos Grand Rapids South
