Heartsong Live has come up with five ways you can approach Lent this year aimed at inspiring you in your spiritual journey as we approach Easter.
Lent began earlier this week. It is the six-week period approaching Holy week. It is a time where we remember how Jesus prayed and fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before doing God’s work.
Followers of Jesus, often mark this period in the Christian calendar by deciding to sacrificially give something up, such as certain foods or something they really enjoy such as cakes or chocolate. But it can also be a time where we introduce new and positive things into our lives.
It can be difficult to know how to mark Lent, so we’ve put together five ways you can approach it, which we hope will encourage and inspire you on your spiritual journey.
- Read and reflect on Jesus’ time in the wilderness
A great starting point as you approach Easter is to find a Bible study plan to do daily throughout Lent. There are many to choose from. You can also read and reflect on the account of Jesus’ time in the wilderness in the Gospels, including Matthew chapter 4 verses 1-11. You can do this on your own or perhaps get friends and family involved.
2. Put yourself in Jesus’ shoes
As you read and reflect on the passage, consider how Jesus must have felt physically and mentally. In the previous chapter, Jesus has just been baptised and:
“At that moment the heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove alighting on him. 17 And a voice from Heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
After such a significant and wonderful moment in the very next chapter we read that Jesus was then led into the wilderness by the Spirit and tempted by Satan. He was also hungry and hadn’t eaten for 40 days and 40 nights. How must that have felt?3.
3. Talk to God and expect Him to answer
Jesus prayed and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Perhaps follow his example by doing the same. As you read and reflect on the passage above, pray and talk to God and expect Him to answer. If anything leaps out as you read, then make a note of it perhaps with an exercise book and pen or by recording a voice note on your smart phone. Discuss it with friends and family too.
4. Alternative types of fasting
Giving up something you enjoy like the traditional methods mentioned above, such as a favourite type of food, can help us to appreciate how Jesus must have felt in the wilderness. We are also following His example as He prepared to do God’s work. But fasting during Lent doesn’t have to be all about sacrificing food, especially not something that is vital to your nutritional needs. Perhaps give up some of your screen and TV time and use it to focus on God instead.
5. Memorise Scripture
In the wilderness, whilst hungry and weak, Satan tempted Jesus and sometimes used scripture in doing so. What was Jesus’ response? Scripture. Jesus knew the scriptures and knew the Devil was twisting them to tempt Him. Learn a few key verses that you can quote and say aloud to help you in areas you struggle with. Making Bible memory verse cards can help with this and maybe get a friend or family member to test you on them.
