What is Lent and Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday is the day Christians all over the world kick of the Lent season. Lent is a forty day period where we reflect and examine our lives in preparation for the Celebration of Easter. The idea is that we pray and ask the Lord to reveal areas of weakness, sin, distraction, etc. in order to more fully appreciate significance and need of Jesus’ death on the cross and celebrate his victory in resurrection. It is traditional to fast or give up something of significance during this time in order to prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies to respond the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season as we place ashes on our foreheads as a symbol of repentance and solemn commitment.

Reading:

The following passage is the traditional foundation for celebrating the Lenten season. Take some time to read it a few times and ask God to speak to you as you read and reflect.

Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. ³The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."

⁴Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" ⁵The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ So if you worship me, it will all be yours." ⁸ Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" ⁹The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. ¹⁰ For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; ¹¹ they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" ¹²Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" ¹³ When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Prayer and Reflection:

After taking some time to reflect on the passage above, you may want to use the following questions to guide your prayers. These are just some questions to get you thinking about what God wants to say to you in this season. You may want to pick just one of these questions that really jumps out at you. Make sure to write down anything your feel the Lord reveals to you in this time.

Ask God:

What do you want to see done in and around me during this Lenten season?

Reveal to me any lies Satan has led me to believe about myself, God, or other people.

Am I depending on anything other than You as my source of provision, truth, encouragement, and salvation?

Am I putting any other cares, fears, loves, or needs of my heart above Jesus and his Kingdom?

Is there any part of my heart that is not fully submitted to God’s call and purpose on my life?

I am rebelling against or attempting to manipulate God to suit might needs?

How do you want me to move forward to deal with these areas in my life? How should I respond?

Follow Up: Giving Up and Taking On

Use this time of prayer and reflection to help you plan out what you will do during this Lenten season. There are many ways to respond, but most people find it helpful to observe Lent by giving up something that they feel is dulling their awareness of God's work and purpose in their lives. So, take some time now and think about what you might put aside for the next weeks to make space for God's work in you. You may also find it helpful to take on something new- like spending more time in with neighbors or being more generous with your time or resources. Whatever it is, make it purposeful!

Post What You're Doing

Feel free to post on this blog whatever is you are going to be doing (or not doing!) during Lent. It's great to share this with others to be held accountable and get ideas. You can post anonymously or by name.