Lent - Part 2

Lent starts March 5th. Consider observing Lent with your family or City Group. At its heart, Lent turns our gaze on Jesus in imitation of his sacrifice, in response to his grace, and in glory of his Cross. We strongly encourage not just "giving something up for Lent," but saturating in prayer and scripture. Consider using this devotional.by Ezra BoggsName an interest or activity you cannot IMAGINE being without for 40 days. Got it? In the previous post we said that whatever "it" is, the fact that being without it for 40 days inspires trepidation is a signal that your attachment or appreciation of ‘it’ needs to be scrutinized.We can fairly easily find ‘it’ within the three traditional realms of Lenten sacrifice; prayer, fasting [both from food and particular festivities], and beneficence.PrayerHere are some suggestions:Make a list of individuals that have impacted your life for Christ that you no longer have regular contact withMake a second list of individuals you are currently serving alongside in communityMake a third list of individuals you want to desperately see come to know Christ as their Lord and SaviorThen, on a calendar, write the name of these individuals down and keep them visible throughout the day and commit to repeatedly pray for them. Tell them what you prayed for them. Or,Commit to pray each day throughout Lent for your City Group and/or family, and journal each day what you prayed; include specific Scriptures that came to mind, lyrics to worship songs, memories that were stirred in your mind while praying for them.Sit with them each evening (or at your City Group gathering) and read them your prayers and thoughts throughout that day and ask how you can pray for them tomorrow. Perhaps write the prayers in a journal.Repeat again and again until Lent ends. Give them the journal as a gift at Easter.FastingFood: Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent, serves as more than simply a means of developing self-control, and can be a valuable aid to prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God. Choose a timeline to fast [one day each week, one week, two weeks] and during the time of your regular meals, read a predetermined book of the Bible.Particular Activities: Commit to no social media, or no TV, or no shopping, or no whatever you do a lot for 40 days. Consider this question: What sometimes robs you of your affections of Jesus?

“I wonder what you think of yourself. The Christian message of a crucified Christ calls us to a different goal than we would otherwise pursue in this life. We’re no longer concerned with what the world calls wise, those who made the decision to crucify Christ. We no longer live for what the world, which opposes God, calls strength. We’re not captivated by applause and honor from those who have rejected Jesus,’ the wisdom from God’ [I Corinthians 1:30].”

During these long hours of uninterrupted time, read your Bible like it was oxygen for your soul! Because IT IS! Time is a commodity like no other. Money can be regained easily. Once time is spent it cannot be recovered. And what we value we will sacrifice our time toward.For 40 days let it be God and only God! He is not satisfied only seeing you for two hours on Sunday. Or, as Blaise Pascal said it so well so long ago,” “All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Ask yourself, “How often am I recognized as being an ambassador of Christ because of what I won’t participate in?” Ever?BeneficenceMost view this solely as monetary sacrifice; it can be. It can also give value to society’s ‘barnacles’ and ‘unwanted’ denizens. The very people Christians should be visiting in their affliction:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world— James 1:27

For 40 days, save the $10 you daily spend at Starbucks; make your caffeinated nectar at home. Compile this large and embarrassing sum normally sacrificed to the gods of Arabica, Espresso, and Steamed Milk, and buy a large stack of gift cards in $20 increments, then walk through Wal-Mart doling them out to single moms standing in the checkout praying for God to show up and help somehow…someway. Make eye contact and tell them,” The Lord wants to bless you!”Everyone and anyone will make time to interact with a celebrity; affiliation with a ‘known’ figure increases our own credibility. However, the Christian, as it has been shown, is to privately and quietly serve the unknown, the helpless, and those members of a society with the ‘least’ possible clout and status. Or,Spend an hour or two several nights each week at a local nursing home. Read books, play bridge, or just sit and listen as many lonely and abandoned lives are given one more chance to share their life stories with an eager listener. Hold their hands. Laugh with them.In this setting, 40 days go by very, very fast.Look for Part 3 tomorrow. Read Part 1 here.