Lent

How very old-fashioned and religious some might say – perhaps they are right! And yet, is there something here that is misunderstood, something worth investigating to be salvaged, ‘contextualised’ and re-understood for our times? Lent used to be about giving up biscuits and chocolates, religiously! There’s something here of an internal struggle that goes on between ‘legalism’ and ‘liberty’ or, if you prefer, ‘Law’ and ‘Grace’. The danger is in going so far the one way that you forget the other exists. All ‘Law’ will tend to make you a Legalist setting yourself up for inevitable failure.  All ‘Grace’ may endanger you to become a presumptuous ‘libertine’ forgetting how the ‘Law and its righteous requirements’ have been met for us so that we might live in unshackled freedom. We discover that obedience to ‘Law’ is the fruit coming from forgiveness rather than the means to achieve it.  Let’s dig into this a little – did you know that colour of ‘Lent’ is purple representing penance, preparation and sacrifice?  Some might think that the word ‘Lent’ could be to do with a loan!  Actually ‘Lent’ is a shortened form of the Old English word ‘lencten’ which means ‘Spring Season’. So here is Lent unwrapped for a fresh look.

• ‘O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen’ – Henri Nouwen
• ‘Lent is a time of going very deeply into ourselves. What is it that stands between us and God? Between us and our brothers and sisters? Between us and life, the life of the Spirit? Whatever it is, let us relentlessly tear it out, without a moment’s hesitation’ – Catherine Doherty
• ‘During Lent, let us find concrete ways to overcome our indifference’ – Pope Francis
• ‘There’s something about it that makes sense, Lent. You give something up, and everything’s more joyful’ – Elaine Stritch

Lent is based around the 40 days associated with Jesus’ time of physical, spiritual and emotional testing in the desert. Moses and Elijah also persevered through 40 days of simple living and self-denial.The evidence is that Lent began to be recognised by the early Church after the Council of Nicaea in 325AD as a spiritual discipline to mark Jesus’ life through giving personal time to prayer, abstinence, fasting and almsgiving.This time of spiritual reflection begins on what is referred to as ‘Ash Wednesday’ where some denominations mark the foreheads of participants with ash in the form of a cross, ash being associated with repentance in the Old Testament. Traditionally Lent ends with either Good Friday or Easter Sunday when the victory of Christ over sin and death is celebrated.Surprisingly, some Christian denominations completely ignore Lent whereas others such as the Catholic Church have it as an important season like Advent. During Lent, Catholic churches will often remove flowers and put a purple veil over crucifixes and other religious symbols – this is referred to as ‘veiling’.Unsurprisingly, some Christians observe this season whilst many don’t bother or may prefer to ‘take something up’ rather than abstain. The idea of fasting is not to hold God to ransom but to draw closer to him.

Some nutritionists recommend fasting from certain foods and drinks or moderating their use to purge the body from impurities – sugary foods, alcohol and meat for example. Other theologians encourage people to take up positive practices of kindness, generosity, bible reading and prayer.If you were to give something up or to take up something for a season, which would you choose? The fact is that Lent is not a biblical practice so there is no fixed time when you should start doing either of these things but there is a benefit in both, whether on an occasional basis or for a fixed time, so long as it doesn’t become a legalist practice that puts you back ‘under law’ and potential condemnation if you fail.Here are 40 verses and short meditations to carry you through a ‘Lenten Journey’, with or without fasting. Why not try it and see where it leads you – it could deepen your spiritual awareness, draw you closer to God or maybe be part of a returning journey to God. 

1. ‘Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’ – Mark 14:37-38  Jesus was strengthened by an angel in Gethsemane so its OK to ask for help in the areas of your weakness.
2. ‘God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him’ – 1 Peter 5:7   Ask Jesus to take the weight off your shoulders for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
3. ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land’ – 2 Chronicles 7:14  True repentance opens up a floodgate of blessing that irrigates wide and far.
4. ‘Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well’ – Matthew 6:33  As we put God first, he looks after everything else. Time given to God is the wisest investment you can ever make.
5. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him’ – John 3:16-17  What does the love of God mean to you? Does he mean ‘the world’ to you?
6. ‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God’ – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4  The compassion of God is a healing river bringing life to you to share with others in need. It needs to keep flowing through us rather than containing it with a dam. Perhaps you can be a channel of blessing for someone today.
7. ‘Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually’ – 1 Chronicles 16:11  Psalm 42 suggests our thirst for God should be like that of a deer panting for flowing streams. In that picture there is a yearning where ‘deep calls to deep’ and leads to renewed hope. Why not try it for today.
8. ‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control’ – 2 Timothy 1:7  When a Christian attempts to live without the Holy Spirit, we choose poverty and insecurity instead of abundant help in every part of living. Find renewed confidence by choosing well.
9. ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight’ – 2 Corinthians 5:7  When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. Blessings come for the journey as you truly trust in Jesus so keep your eyes fixed on him rather than the circumstances and all will be well.
10. ‘Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart’ – Psalm 37:3-4  If Jesus is truly your focus, your heart’s desires will be worthy and he promises to satisfy them.
11. ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever’ – Hebrews 13:8  Jesus is not a fair-weather friend but is the eternal one who sticks closer than a brother through the ‘thick and thin’ of life.
12. ‘Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth’ – Colossians 3:2  We are not to be so heavenly-minded that we are no earthly good! How does heaven impact your life?
13. ‘Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened’ – Matthew 7:7-8  It should be obvious to us that getting answers comes from asking the right person, finding comes by seeking in the right place and guidance is given when we knock the right door.  What does Jesus mean when he says, “I am The Gate”?
14. ‘” For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope”’ – Jeremiah 29:11  Even if you are unsure of your own plans and direction, God has everything in hand for your future.
15. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight’ – Proverbs 3:5  Whilst it is entirely right to seek independent living as adults, it’s never right to seek independence from God. The plan is for us to live within his provision, to enjoy him and to bring joy to him in humility.
16. ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit’ – Philemon 1:25  Lubricating oil loosens everything up – has God’s grace touched every part of your life to bring you his true freedom?
17. ‘The Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he’ – Deuteronomy 32:4  The very character of God is just, holy and righteous. No wonder that we are to become more like him so we can reflect him to others.
18. ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ – Psalm 119:105  A dodgy torch will fail you and put you in danger – God’s Word never will.
19. ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit’ – Psalm 51:10-12   No matter what you’ve done and how damaged you feel, God can restore and renew you. David discovered this and its true for you too.
20. ‘When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You’ – Psalm 56:3  Fear limits and imprisons us. Trusting God brings freedom and life to the full.
21. ‘For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’ – Matthew 11:30  Yes there is lots of trouble in the world but, take heart, Jesus has overcome it to give you peace.
22. ‘Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly in prayer’ – Romans 12:12  Celebration of God’s goodness is not a shallow thing but a profound inner certainty. Be encouraged to persevere in faith because Jesus persevered for you.
23. ‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’ – 1 Corinthians 10:31  We’re called to live for the glory of God not for the vainglory of ourselves – it’s a tough lesson that can take a life time to learn.
24. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ – Luke 10:27  The object of your love will drive the direction of your life, your thoughts, words and actions. Where your treasure is, there also is your heart.
25. ‘For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love’ – 1 Corinthians 13:12-13   The love of the Lord endures for ever – faith and hope are temporary gifts and no longer needed once we are finally in God’s presence.
26. ‘Whoever gives attention to the Lord’s word prospers and blessed is the person who trusts the Lord’ – Proverbs 16:20  When our treasure is God’s Word then we are rich indeed. Material things do not last – just watch the sparrows to be reminded that God provides all you need.
27. ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord’ – Deuteronomy 8:3  This was how Jesus responded when tempted so it must be a foundational truth that we can rely on when we are taking thoughts and temptations captive.
28. ‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money’ – Matthew 6:24  Is this a dilemma for you or is your mind already made up? ‘Money’ has an uglier name – ‘Mammon’. Whatever you call it, it is not a friendly master but in reality is a ‘slave driver’.
29. ‘There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus’ – Romans 3:22-24  The greatest saint and the worst sinner have this in common – they have both sinned and need the grace of God.  It is the same for us, always.
30. ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me’ – John 14:6  This unique claim could only be genuinely made by the Son of God – he is both ‘The Gate’ and the one who stands at the door and knocks.
31. ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?’ – Psalm 27:1  Knowing this is how we can walk in the light, secure and without fear.
32. ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God’ – Mark 10:27  Mary humbly trusted God for the impossible. She was right to do so for he can do far more than we can ask or imagine.
33. ‘But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed’ – Isaiah 53:5  There’s no such thing as ‘cheap grace’ – your freedom cost Jesus everything. To know this is to live a life of worship.
34. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death’ – Romans 8:1-2  Described as ‘the Alps’ of the New Testament, it is worth having a long soak in Romans chapter 8. You might find using a highlighter will help you appropriate the blessings into your mind – it’s worth trying to memorise them too.
35. ‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me’ – 2 Corinthians 12:9  Isn’t it odd that we can embrace weakness as an opportunity to draw closer to God?  Consider your greatest weakness and ask for the power of Christ to bring you relief in the struggle.
36. ‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’ – Philippians 4:13  When we try to do things in our own strength, we’ve got it the wrong way round. If you turn it the right way round, there’s no limit to what you can do.
37. ‘Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength’ – Nehemiah 8:10  This verse can best be understood by reading Hebrews 12:2 – as Jesus went to the cross, he did so for the joy set before him which was your salvation.  His joy is therefore your strength through the gift of salvation.
38. ‘He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?’ – Micah 6:8  If you’ve ever wondered how to live or what to do in certain situations, here’s the answer. Do what’ right and kind with a humble heart.
39. ‘He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel’ – 2 Timothy 1:9-10  God’s clear purpose was to save you, to get you to listen to his call and then bring you to holiness. We are all works in progress until he calls us home.
40. ‘Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me’ – Luke 9:23  Self denial may not be a lot of fun but it is to be our way of life – God first, others next, self last.

And for the rest of the days given to you, here’s the on-going call:

‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age’ – Matthew 28:19-20  If you believe these previous 40 verses, here’s the call to action for every believer without exception. Good news is to be shared like seeds of hope and not stored away in a packet. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you – through your unique personality and opportunities – to ‘go forth and multiply’ with creativity, purpose and energy.

TRANSFORMATION (connect4life.org.uk)