Pursuing Veritas

“Our savior knew pain and grief and despair, and so do we. Easter is coming, yes. But for now, we sit in the ashes of our broken dreams and broken hearts, knowing that God sits here with us.” –Kate Bowler, Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day

Last week at our church’s Ash Wednesday service, we began our observance of Lent, the season of intentional preparation for the remembrance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Lent runs for forty days (excluding Sundays) because Jesus Himself spent forty days in the wilderness prior to starting His public ministry. These days prepared Him to resist the temptations the Adversary threw at Him and embrace the work God had for Him. Many times during Lent, Christians use these forty days to foster healthy spiritual practices that can help us do the same.

As a pastor of a church who celebrates this season, I’m often asked what Lent can (or should) involve. And part of my response involves suggesting a trial with one or more of the following practices of Lent. Those suggestions always come with a caveat though: if you find yourself struggling, don’t worry. The goal with each of these practices is not perfection, but deeper intimacy with God. Scripture tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice, which means whenever we sacrifice or embrace a spiritual practice, it should come from a place of humble surrender to our Lord and God.

As we move toward Easter, let me encourage you to remember that God does not expect you to grow on your own. There is both grace for your journey and support from your community. For God has given us these practices and the opportunity to practice them as ways to become more like Him.

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Fasting

Fasting involves intentionally abstaining from sustenance (or certain kinds of food and drink) for a set period of time. The purpose of fasting is to remind us of Jesus’ words in Matthew 4.4: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Food is necessary for life. But sometimes, neglecting food can bring opportunities for focus and growth that the comfort of food might otherwise cause us to miss. During Lent, the Church practices fasting during the week, but feasting on Sundays.

Ideas for Action

Consider giving something up for Lent. It could be some food, drink, or practice. Don’t try to go too big (and beware of trying to use your fast as “sanctified dieting”). But giving something up can be a great tangible reminder of what Jesus gave up for us on the cross.

Try completing a 24 hour fast. If you try this, keep it simple and don’t push yourself too far. But use your hunger or weariness into opportunities to talk with God and listen to Him. (Please note that those who are pregnant, ill, or with certain medical conditions should not fast for prolonged periods of time.)

Study

Spend time intentionally learning during the next several weeks. Traditionally, the Church focuses on the story of God recorded in the Scriptures. But you could also learn more about the history and practices of Lent or learn about some theme of Scripture or dig into some other topic entirely.

Ideas for Action

Follow along with the Bible App’s Lent Scripture Reading Plan.

Read Esau McCaulley’s Lent, which is part of the Fullness of Time series that introduces Christians to the messages, themes, and practices of the Church calendar.

Watch some of the Bible Project’s videos on the story that the Bible tells about who Jesus is, why He died on Good Friday, and what it means that He rose from the dead on Easter.

Reflection and Renewal

Lent is not just a time to let go of things, but also to replace those things with good practices and habits that help draw us closer to God. As human beings, we’re fickle and forget a lot. We need to be reminded and find opportunities to recommit to the things that are truly important in our lives. So commit time to intentionally reflecting and renewing your life during Lent.

Ideas for Action

Spend a few minutes in silence or reflecting on a passage of Scripture. Here’s one to start with: The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4 ESV)

Grab a resource like Jennifer Tucker’s Breath as Prayer or Kate Bowler’s Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day and spend some time each day breathing, praying, and reflecting. (Kate’s book even has a section specifically on Lent you can use.)

Find an opportunity to enact the Gospel through charity or justice work. Whether through an Arise ministry or not, devote some time to serving those in need this Lent.

Confession

Lent is a season of owning our sinfulness and hearing God’s call to repentance—both before God and others. McCaulley reminds us that, “We cannot be healed of what we refuse to acknowledge.” Confession is a way of taking acknowledging where we have gone wrong and committing to making those things right. Such confession is rightly followed by the reminder that God forgives us and heals our wounded consciences.

Ideas for Action

Take time to confess your sins to God or to a trusted friend or ministry leader. Examine your heart, recall your week, and perhaps even make a list of the ways that you broke faith with God, your family, your friends, your coworkers, or anyone else you interacted with during the week. Then, take a few moments to pray to confess your sins and acknowledge your need for God’s grace and forgiveness. Consider this prayer: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep, we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against your holy laws, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, spare those who confess their faults, restore those who are repentant, according to your promises declared to mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord; and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen. Then, end by acknowledging God’s mercy and realizing that He has forgiven your sins in Christ Jesus.

Visit a Stations of the Cross experience during the next few weeks. The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis has a Stations of the Cross that is open to the public at 7pm each Friday of Lent.

Prayer

Undoubtedly, prayer stands as one of the central practices of our Lenten preparation for Good Friday and Easter. Whether you spend time in intentional, personal conversation with God, you pray through the story of Jesus’ passion and death, or you use more traditional forms of prayer to guide your conversations with God, commit yourself to spending time before Almighty God this Lent.

Ideas for Action

If you’re not sure what to pray about, try praying through the Lord’s Prayer and then make it your own. Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13 NLT)

Pray and reflect on the Lenten Collects. Numerous churches use prayers from the Book of Common Prayer to guide their prayers for each week of Lent. Consider using these prayers or integrating them into your family devotions or small group prayer time.

February 14-24: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

February 25-March 2: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

March 3-9: Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities that may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

March 10-16: Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

March 17-23: Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

March 24-30: Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Worship

Join in the corporate worship of Lent, especially the celebrations of Holy Week. Consider joining a local church their services. And if you’re in the St. Louis area, let me invite you to our Journey through John, where we will be experiencing the Fourth Gospel’s account of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. We will begin during our Holy Thursday service (6pm on Thursday, March 28), continue at our Good Friday service (6pm on Friday, March 29), and conclude at our Easter Sunrise service (7am on Sunday, March 31).

As you prepare your hearts and minds for Good Friday and Easter, remember: these practices of Lent do not diminish what Jesus has done for us; instead, they enable us to more fully encounter the grace of God.