Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.
Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘lencten’, which means “spring.” The forty days represents the time Jesus
spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin His ministry.
Traditionally, Lent has been all about giving things up, and over the years people have given up all sorts of things like
chocolate, sweets, deserts, and even more recently Facebook and other social media activities!
I think giving things up can be helpful if it focuses our thoughts and prayers on our preparation for the arrival of
Easter.
But I don’t believe that Lent should be a time for just giving things up, but also for taking things up!
Sometimes, I think when we really look at our lives and the time we spend with our Lord, we can often come to the
conclusion that we’ve fasting all year since the last Lenten season, or even longer; fasting our prayer life, fasting our
daily devotional time, fasting our giving?
So, my prayer for all of us, me included, is that this Lenten season we would take some things up, and really prepare
ourselves for the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
And as we grow in our knowledge and personal relationship with Him, Easter will be a far greater experience for us as we commune and bring ourselves into His presence in this time of preparation and confession.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us; ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is
God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ [NIVUK]
Every blessing,
Pastor Steve