The Journey
Lent is all about Jesus, His suffering and sacrifice. It is a season of renewed prayer life lasting forty days.
As we pray, we are travelling on a ‘spiritual’ journey, that takes us along the path that Jesus walked during his last days on earth. It is a journey of evaluation, examination, and blessed humiliation.
This prayerful forty-day journey through the valley of trials and temptations , brings us closer to Jesus and prepares our souls to focus on Christ’s sacrifice for us which is the real meaning of Easter and the reason we celebrate it.
What is Lent?
Lent is the 40-day period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday, concluding the day before Good Friday that commemorates the crucifixion of Christ.
The Lenten season is a time of meditation, preparation, and repentance.
The Importance of observing Lent
By reflecting on the significance of Christ’s journey to the cross, we can gain a deeper understanding of His teachings and the importance of taking up our cross and following Him.
It is the time to strengthen our faith, commit to our spiritual growth, and live a life that is aligned with His teachings.
On the cross…Jesus took our place and replaced us to appease God’s righteous anger towards our sin and rebellion.
On the cross… Jesus was broken up so that we could be accepted by God.
On the cross…Jesus rescued us from eternal damnation so that God can give us eternal life.
The Bible says....
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthian 5:21 (KJV)
To understand better.. here is the New Living Translation.
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthian 5:21 ( New Living Translation)
God so loved the World..
God, out of His immense love for us, desired to remove the barrier of sin that separated us from Him.
To accomplish this, Jesus was sent by God, who lived a sinless life on earth and became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. By dying on the cross, Jesus paid the price for all of humanity’s sins, removing the guilt and shame that once separated us from God.
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made us righteous before God, granting us access to a restored relationship with Him.
The to-dos during the Lenten season.
The to-do list for the journey towards the cross during the Lenten season is….
- To renew and deepen our relationship with Jesus.
- To devote our time to the gospel of the living word and meditate on the life and teachings of Christ
- To reorient the choices we make, so that we might live as Jesus taught us to live.
- To ponder on our sins and weakness, looking up to Christ as our perfect example
- To make room for him in your thoughts and activities and affections
- To sharpen our focus on Jesus so that our attention will center around Christ rather than ourselves.
- To strengthen our Faith and Trust in Jesus.
Fasting, Moderation, and Self-Denial for 40 days
Lent commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, fasting and praying. He did this to prepare for His ministry on earth and to become stronger against Satan’s temptations.
This is why fasting began to be associated with being close to God.
During Lent, people choose to give up certain things, such as food, TV, social media, phones, or shopping too much. This helps them feel more connected to Jesus and what he went through. By giving up these things, they create more space to read the Bible and meditate on God’s teachings.
The key or the main purpose of lent is to concentrate on building a close relationship with God.
Don't presuppose...
Never assume that fasting makes you righteous or that God should grant all your selfish desires!
God says through the prophet in Isaiah 58:6-10(New English Translation) about the kind of activities one should do:
6. No, this is the kind of fast I want:
I want you to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed,
and to break every burdensome yoke.
7.I want you to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.
When you see someone naked, clothe them!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood.
8.Then your light will shine like the sunrise;
your restoration will quickly arrive;
your godly behavior will go before you,
and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.
9.Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;
you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the need of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
Our relationship WITH Jesus Christ and WITH one another is important. Our ultimate goal this Lent should be focused on improving these relationships.
Our walk with God should only be defined by what we do for the Lord.
Conclusion...
Jesus made the way for people to have a relationship with God in this life. And the reward? To spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Lenten Prayer
Dear Lord…give us your Holy Spirit, as we enter this Lenten season to acknowledge our sins, and recall your sufferings and triumph. As we pray and fast today, help us to let go of our fear and hatred, our anger and self-pity, and enter a season of healing. Help us to grow strong in faith and trust. We lift up our praises to you, for leading us every step of the way. We thank you for removing the obstacle of sin between God and us and making it possible for us to have eternal life. Amen.
Lenten Journey Blessings
During lent, know all about Jesus Christ’s passionate teaching about Forgiveness
Want to know about God’s will for your life?
Addie Rita Guidry
Lord please be with me while I go through this lent! Lord have mercy! Amen
May our Lord’s Grace, love and mercy be with us each step of the journey to the cross. Amen