Lent: Ashes to Ashes

Wednesday is the first day of Lent. We will gather together to worship with prayer, communion, reflection, and ashes.

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Daniel 9:3

I really enjoy the Lenten season. There are no presents to buy, no decorations to hang, and no cookies to bake. It’s not Advent. Advent is fast paced and high energy. It is a time to prepare for a joyous feast and celebration of the long-awaited Messiah.

But Lent is different. Lent is slower. It is a time of reflection and repentance. It is a time to give your soul a check up. It’s the time to ask this question:

How are you and Jesus doing?

As Christ followers, we take the next 40 days to give ourselves a heart check. We allow God to examine our spirits a little closer than we do the rest of the year. And we prepare to celebrate the most important day on the Church calendar; Resurrection Sunday, Easter morning!

There is no day more significant than Easter. Easter is the fulfillment of the promise. God has conquered death, hell, sin, and the grave. We are no longer prisoners of sin. We are now sons and daughters of God.

Tomorrow is your opportunity to make a plan for the next 40 days. What do you need to do to become closer to God? What do you need to stop doing to become closer to God? Maybe you will make a commitment to attend worship every Sunday during Lent. Maybe you will take five minutes a day to pray or read the Bible. Maybe you will fast one meal a week and use that time meditating on the things of God. Maybe you will commit to eating dinner with your family at least once a week.

Lent is a time for us to reflect on our soul’s condition. And since our soul is eternal, it would be a good opportunity to give it some much-needed attention.