Lent Has Begun Pt. 1: Lenten Series

Liz Lampkin CNW Staff Writer

The Lenten season is the time when believers of different denominations focus on prayer, fasting, remembrance, and sacrifice with the goal of developing a closer relationship with God. On this day, believers focus on repentance, prayer, and confession of sins. As the 40-day period continues, ending on Holy Saturday, April 8th, people will focus on prayer as a means of guidance, strength, and confession to develop true intimacy with God. While people are praying, they also give up certain habits to mimic the sacrifice Christ made when He went to the desert to pray and fast before his journey to the cross. As Christ worked toward the cross He endured lies, ridicule, and inhumane treatment to sacrifice His life for sinners. To do this, He had to take on and display the characteristics of humility, grace, forgiveness, and empathy but most of all He displayed love. The character traits Christ took on enabled Him to complete His mission and set the example for the way believers should live. Each year for Lent, believers everywhere will sacrifice bad eating habits, shopping, social media, alcohol, using foul language, and many other things as a means to emulate Christ’s 40 days and nights of fasting and prayer. As many people have started fasting, praying and sacrificing something for the Lenten season, I wonder how many will adopt certain habits that will turn into a lifestyle that will consistently bring them closer to God.

If people desire to get closer to God, repent from their sins and make sacrifices during this time it’s going to take more of a spiritually conscious effort to do so. If you’ve already started your Lenten season with a physical commitment, try adding on one Biblical character trait to put into practice as well. If you don’t know how to start, here’s how.

• Identify one Biblical character trait you would like to practice more. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what it is, why you want to practice it more and how you will exhibit it.

• During your time of prayer, ask for guidance, discipline and strength to stay the course.

• Give yourself grace. As you focus, you may backslide from time to time. It’s okay. Challenges will come in many forms to distract you, and as humans we will become distracted. If/when this