Lent is a time usually marked by fasting and a long lines at Captain D's. Yesterday, Ash Wednesday, was the kickoff to Lent which is meant to be 40 days and nights (not including the Sabbath) of preparation for Holy Week. So why with the no meat on Fridays and giving up pop?
When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. (Psalm 69:10)
Because fasting is a way of humbling your soul. It is a way to practice self discipline, grow closer to God, gain healthy habits and prepare yourself for something (like Jesus fasting before the start of His ministry). Fasting can be more than just giving up pop or chocolate, it really should be more than giving up T.V. on Wednesdays ("because nothings on anyways") and it should NOT be giving up school work or showering for 40 days. It needs to be a sacrifice, but you can be creative!
Last year at lent I wore one dress for all 46 days to raise awareness/$ for the Daughter Project. My parents did not understand or support it but it was a sacrifice. For 40 days I did not buy clothing or accessories or shoes and instead wore the same black dress everyday. The money I did not spend went to the Daughter Project to help them build their shelter here in Ohio for girls rescued from human trafficking. This year I felt the Lord pushing me to a spending fast so that was the plan for Lent...until this weekend. I am a procrastinator, easily distracted and not really that great with self-discipline. So this weekend I felt the urge to do more than not spend money on anything that is not an absolute necessity.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize?
So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.
They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others
I myself should be disqualified. (1 Cor 9:2-27)
I need to work on that whole self-discipline thing. So in addition to the no spending I also will be on a strict weekly schedule that includes waking up at a certain time, exercise, study, planning, cleaning, hobbies, and even my showers are blocked in. Full disclosure: I have already gone 0-2 on the wake up time but I will try again tomorrow. This is not going to be easy for me but when I sat down and made my block schedule I had trouble filling it up...where did all this time come from?? So hears hoping that I can stick to it, learn about self-discipline, gain some positive habits and grow closer to the One who asked this of me. Wish me luck.
- It needs to be a sacrifice, and not an easy one. What is getting in your way of doing something you love? Or if you are a Christian what is getting in your way of your relationship with God? Challenge yourself, it should not be easy and you may fail but just keep trying.
- Make it realistic. Some people go the opposite way and have huge lofty goals of a complete life overhaul. You know you so challenge yourself yes, but do not expect a completely new person to be living your life because it is Lent.
- Make it measurable. Do just eat sweets "less" or read "more" those will not work and it is hard to help and encourage you if it is not measurable. So if you want to exercise "more" then make it 4 times a week for an hour on the schedule so you know when you have met the goal or not.
- Be creative. What would be a challenge for you? I could easily give up things that may be hard for you to do and vise versa. Fast from Facebook, the internet, T.V., movies, spending, meat, dairy, wasting time, caffeine and so on. Give up your time to add something into your life like exercise, cooking healthy meals everyday, mentoring or service. You could give up complaining or a bad attitude. You could start encouraging people, committing acts of kindness, or only letting positive things come out of your mouth. The possibilities are endless.
