Lent starts tomorrow.
It’s the season in the church calendar when Christians traditionally give up some earthly pleasure in order to draw closer to Jesus by, in some small way, joining him in the suffering he would endure on the cross.
I want to strengthen my faith, but this year, the idea of giving something up seems absurd.
Haven’t we already given up enough?
Yes, I can still give up chocolate. That would still be a sacrifice. But would it strengthen my faith? Maybe in years past, I would open the bible when the Reese’s started calling, but this year I’m not so sure. I’m already spending at least a little time in scripture every day.
Some years I’ve added something extra into my life during the 40 days of Lent. A devotional reading, an act of kindness. This year the answer isn’t really clear as to what the Holy Spirit is calling me to do. Could it be nothing special? Could it be to keep on keepin’ on?
I feel like I’m trying to pick out a gift for Jesus and just can’t make up my mind.
Maybe if I pray before bed tonight, it’ll come to me in the morning. And if it doesn’t make that deadline, I guess that’s ok. God doesn’t really have the same calendar we do.
Come to think of it, my 2021 focus word didn’t make the New Year’s Day deadline. But it did eventually arrive.
My word this year: BALANCE
Seems about right.
Amy Nicholson 