Lent what?

Today is Ash Wednesday, and marks the beginning of the Lent period. Lent is the first of the three periods which make up the Easter Season; the other two are Easter (Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday) and Pentecost (the following seven weeks or fifty days until Pentecost Sunday). Lent is approximately forty days (depending on your tradition) and goes from Ash Wednesday until Maundy Thursday or Easter Sunday.

Historically, Christians observed a Christian Passover called Pascha, which was adapted from the Jewish Passover. “Pascha was a festival of redemption and commemorated both the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as the vehicle for God’s grace.”[1] As time continued, and the Easter Holy Week became more and more emphasized, the festival of Pascha became what we know today as the Season of Lent, in that the believer took the time to prepare themselves through prayer, penance, repentance, and self-denial for the full impact of the meaning of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The idea behind Lent is that the grace received on Calvary is better understood and felt after the believer has completely examined their self, behavior, thoughts, and heart. After one realizes their own sinfulness and desperate need for a savior, Christ’s death and resurrection provide welcome relief.

Today many people mark this with the tradition of “giving up” something for the period of Lent. Chocolate, Caffeine, Alcohol, and TV are common items that people try to give up for the period of Lent as a way of showing their self discipline and commitment to Christ. But more than that, whatever is given up should be something that causes the believer to cling to the Cross and depend on the strength of Christ to endure for the forty day period. Hence the term: fasting. Fasting is the act of abstaining from food (and possibly drink) in order to make oneself completely dependent upon God for their sustenance. Most periods of fasting are marked with fervent prayer as they believer earnestly seeks the truth of God and His presence. 

As we begin the season of Lent, if you chose to give something up, please remember that it is supposed to be done as a way to make you grow closer to Christ during this time. A great friend of mine once told me that their pastor encouraged them to take something on, rather than just give something up. He encouraged his congregation to cultivate some godly habit that could continue past the Lent Season, rather than simply sacrifice a luxury for the time. I absolutely love this idea. Even better, you can give something up, and take something on!

Are you giving up listening to the radio as you drive? Awesome, now listen to the Bible on CD, or use the time in the car to memorize Scripture (at stoplights please!). Are you giving up TV? Good, use the time to spend with your family and friends, growing those relationships and encouraging them. Are you giving up some sort of food and drink (this one may be hard this year given that Valentine’s Day is tomorrow)? Now when you get the munchies for what you gave up, eat something healthier, go for a walk, or call a friend and chat.

But above all, Pray! Keep yourself in prayer. Tell God that it is hard and you are struggling. You think he doesn’t understand? Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness eating nothing and Satan himself came to tempt him. Count your blessings too! Remember that after the first Passover the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years eating manna and quail. You think you’re getting tired of eating differently or the same old thing? God gets it. He was human remember. He knows what it feels like to be tired, hungry, sad, annoyed, and tempted. Take the opportunity to get to know your Savior during this time. It’s worth it, I promise.

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[1] http://www.cresourcei.org/cyeaster.html