Within the Christian church, there is a special way of marking time called The Christian Year. It is within this sacred pattern of time that followers of Jesus are encouraged to rehearse the story of God in their personal and corporate worship.
LENT is from the Anglo–Saxon word meaning “springtime.” This Lenten season lasts for forty days concluding on Easter Sunday. In fact, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, forty–six days before Easter, but since Sundays are considered “resurrection days,” in which observers celebrate and do not fast, they are not counted as part of the forty days of fasting, praying, and almsgiving.
Have you ever heard the term “spring cleaning”? Each year in the spring we look around our homes and say, “I should really get rid of a bunch of this stuff. It's time for some spring cleaning!” (Well, maybe not those words exactly). But we all go through the cycle of cleaning out the clutter in our homes, bedrooms, or dorm rooms. This is what Lent is about. It is a “spring cleaning” for our souls. We search within to find all the stuff that really doesn't need to be there, or shouldn't be there, and we empty them from our lives, inviting Christ to dwell in their place.
Lent is a season for both personal and corporate spiritual renewal. During this season, the Christ follower is to look within and ask, “Am I living my life as though it were worthy of someone to die?” The history of Lent unveils traditions rich with meaning including times of intense study of God’s Word, meditation, prayer, and self–examination.
The placement of the season of Lent, immediately preceding the Easter season, encourages the Christian to prepare well for the celebration of new life through resurrection. We die to ourselves, crucified with Christ, and find new life in Jesus. Therefore, the Lenten season is for all who call themselves Christians. For all who desire to become more like Jesus. It is not a Catholic thing, nor a Protestant thing. It is a follower of Jesus Christ thing.
An authentic journey through Lent leads to repentance—to turn away from sin and to turn to God. Our lives are shaped internally through external disciplines as we spiritually prepare to experience the power of the resurrection in our own lives. Lent provides an opportunity to be spiritually formed through the external disciplines of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.
The tradition of giving something up during Lent (i.e., chocolate, soda, Facebook, etc.) comes from the historical precedent of fasting. Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and many others in the Bible fasted. Jesus himself fasted for forty days (which is why Lent lasts for forty days) in order to focus his attention on his mission and journey to the cross. Fasting helps us to focus on what is important. The pangs we feel during our fast remind us that our faith requires sacrifice. It helps build discipline and character. As we have seen, fasting is not only about giving something up, but also about taking something (or someone) on. We give up something in order to take on more of the likeness of Christ and grow deeper in our relationship with God.
This is what Lent is about. It is a time to search within ourselves, and even more, allow God to search within us and take away anything that does not give Him glory. Will you pray this prayer today as we begin the season of Lent?
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23–24