stand up eight. ~Japanese proverb
Lent: a period of fasting, moderation, and self-denial traditionally observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. During Lent, participants give up a specific food or habit.
If you’re a Christian of any denomination, you know what Lent is. I’m Evangelical Protestant, and my family observes Lent.
However, it’s only this year that I have actually considered the implications of Lent.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1, NIV). Satan had tempted Jesus for forty days and forty nights. He tried to get Jesus to abuse His power as the Son of God in Matthew 4:3, and make Jesus put God to the test in Matthew 4:5. Lastly, the devil tries to get Jesus to bow down and worship him, for all the glory in the world in Matthew 4:8. Jesus refused every attempt.
Lent is a period of self-discipline and reflection. It’s a time for us to look both inwards and see how we can take back control from the sins that have taken over our hearts.
It’s a time for us to contemplate Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross for us, and how that affects our sin. But even with the best self-discipline, not everyone is up to 40 days and 40 nights of fasting.
Who hasn’t broken their Lent resolution? Everyone has. If it’s a too big thing, it turns into a New Year’s resolution: “Oh, I’ll do that tomorrow.” If it’s a too little thing, then it isn’t really worth the trouble of giving up. I’ve gone back and forth on these points in years past.
But this year, I’m doing two resolutions for Lent. I intend to keep them, and look at them in a different manner.
This Lent season, I’m 1) reading one verse of the Bible every morning, and 2) going to bed early, as in between 9-10:30. These two things are, immediately off the bat, hard.
Reading the Bible every day has always been difficult for me. I don’t like to wake up earlier than I have to, so I’m adjusting to that.
I wake up early (6:00-6:10), and force myself to get everything else done so I can read the Bible. Sometimes I forget. Sometimes I “forget”. As for sleeping early? I have to watch the clock more, and I’m not the best at that.
That’s not good. But it’s not necessarily bad. I can start again tomorrow. And with these two resolutions, I intend to hold onto them after Lent has passed. I have already noticed the difference when I read the Bible in the morning, or if I don’t.
When I do, I contemplate my Bible verse, and often can connect it to every day situations. When I go to bed earlier, I get more sleep, which I definitely need, as a senior reaching the end of high school.
But when we slip up, it’s GOD who helps us. We aren’t like Jesus Christ; we can’t fast, or refuse Satan’s temptations, for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, is the only one who could do that. We flawed, sinful humans, can’t ever hope to match up to that.
But the good news is, we don’t have to! God doesn’t expect us to! He wants us to do our best, and our best is good enough for Him. We won’t ever get Lent perfect, because we’re sinful, and God knows that. That’s why God sent His one and only Son to die on the cross, for us. For our sin.
The best Lent resolution is big enough that you know it’s is hard for you, but small enough that you can manage getting through. You will struggle, and that’s okay! Everyone struggles. The important thing is to get back up and try again, but with God’s help. With God’s help, it’ll be easier. We can go through anything with God.
As we move into the last part of Lent, did you keep your Lent resolutions? When you missed one, did you start back on it the next day? Did you go through Lent with God by your side? Or did you try to keep your resolutions on your own?
Until next time!
A dangerous ray of sunshine signing off.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)
