So, who is participating in Lent this year? I am actually going to participate this year FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! God laid it on my heart this year, I thought it will be a perfect way to stay grounded. In Matthew 4:1 we learned that Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit. So, I encourage all of you to pray and ask Him if he is leading you somewhere. Maybe it is leading you to participate in lent, maybe it is leading you somewhere towards life change.
Here are some fun facts for ya
- The biggest thing to remember if you choose to participate in lent, is that you are not giving something up just so that you can say you are giving something up. You are giving something up so that when you feel the temptation for that thing (whether it is a food, luxury, even technology- as I know some of you have done this before) you take that time to instead be with Jesus. Whether it is through prayer, praising, worshiping via some Christian music/song, repentance, read a devotional, or just plain acknowledging your desire for that thing but recognizing you CAN do this via Philippians 4:13 Amen? Amen!
- The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial. (Wickipedia.com)
- Lent is described as 40 days leading to Easter in remembrance of the
40 days Jesus spent in the desert. Remember, he was STILL tempted in
the desert. Stay strong and pray your way out of the temptation
when it comes.....b/c -it will come, sisters! - The number forty has many Biblical references: the forty days Moses spent on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18); the forty days and nights Elijah spent walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8); the forty days and nights God sent rain in the great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4); the forty years the Hebrew people wandered in the desert while traveling to the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33); the forty days Jonah gave in his prophecy of judgment to the city of Nineveh in which to repent or be destroyed (Jonah 3:4).
Jesus retreated into the wilderness, where He fasted for forty days, and was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1–2, Mark 1:12–13, Luke 4:1–2). He overcame all three of Satan's temptations by citing scripture to the devil, at which point the devil left Him, angels ministered to Jesus, and He began His mininistry. BOOM! my favorite part here to remember is, to cite scripture when you face temptation. Make an index card, carry it in your purse, pocket, car, put it on your desk, put it in the notes section of your phone. Don't be unarmed sisters....you ALL have a LTC --license to carry! :) Jesus further said that His disciples should fast "when the bridegroom shall be taken from them" (Matthew 9:15), a reference to his Passion. Since, presumably, the Apostles fasted as they mourned the death of Jesus, Christians have traditionally fasted during the annual commemoration of his burial. t is the traditional belief that Jesus lay for forty hours in the tomb[19] which led to the forty hours of total fast that preceded the Easter celebration in the early Church[22] (the biblical reference to 'three days in the tomb' is understood as spanning three days, from Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning, rather than three 24 hour periods of time). (Wickipedia.com)
- The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigour during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbor). (Wickipedia.com)
- here is a pic of the desert wilderness of Judea
- pic compliments of compliments of http://www.swordofthespirit.
net/bulwark/feb08p5.htm I think I'm going to print this picture as it really captures the bareness and stillness that Jesus was surrounded by. (even if it wasn't this exact location- desert is desert!) FINALLY, I encourage you who are participating in lent to JOURNAL through this time. There is so much power in capturing your thoughts. It is one way God can speak to you. It is also a great way to look back later and remember.
DO YOU HAVE A LENT STORY? DO SHARE IT WITH US!
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