You have probably heard someone say this, “I’m giving up… (chocolate, caffeine, fast food, etc) for Lent” around this time of year.
But Lent is so much more than “giving up” something. For more than sixteen centuries, followers of Jesus around the world have set aside the 40 days leading up to Holy Week as an intentional spiritual journey of repentance and renewal. We do this in solidarity with Jesus, who was led by the Spirit into the desert for 40 days, following his baptism. Why the desert? It is in the ‘desert places' that our temptations, false selves, disordered loves, and cherised idols are exposed. It is in the desert that are prepared to rediscover the amazing good news of the gospel of Holy Week and Easter.
Theologian Julie Canlis sums up Lent this way:
“That’s what Lent is all about. When we fast, give up social media, or relinquish other habits, we place ourselves in the wilderness. There in that barren space, we’re better able to hear the simplicity and power of the gospel message: We are loved by God and loved to the death. Only by staying grounded in this love does sin break its hold on us. Only by his affection do our temptations wither. And only through declaring ourselves beloved can we look ahead to what comes out of the desert—the resurrection of Christ, through whom all things are made new.”
I invite you to try out a new spiritual practice this Lent- praying Scripture into your everyday life. Each week during the next six weeks we will take a portion of the first chapter of Ephesians (amazing good news!), and learn to pray it into our lives and world. HERE is a copy of the prayer guide.
If you are looking to join a new small group to study and pray through this passage, check out a DNA Road Test starting soon.
To prepare your heart and mind for this season of spiritual renewal, check out Julie Canlis’ video talk at Biola University.
Finally, check out The Lent Project for an artistic guide through this sacred season (source: Biola University).