In high school, I remember a few Roman Catholic students who, like many evangelicals, had only a nominal faith. For Lent, they stopped eating chocolate and playing video games—probably because their parents required it of them. I thought it was lame then. I think it’s lame now.
In my Junior Year of high school, I was truly saved. My faith became a matter of the heart, my life was transformed, and I became immersed in the Bible and in the story of the gospel. Easter became my favorite day of the year, and I began to look forward to it weeks in advance. The thought crossed my mind, “Why don’t we do something to prepare for this?” Then it hit me: That’s what Lent is supposed to be. Lent has been abused, but abuse doesn’t take away proper use. And the proper use of Lent is to help us to arrive at Easter with a heart fully prepared. It’s about journeying with Jesus to the cross and resurrection.
Here are a few ways to observe a truly holy Lent—not just a nominal one.
First, pick a prayer book or devotional book to guide you in heart-searching prayer. Prayer is the first of the three main pillars of Lent. This year, for every family in our church, we purchased copies of Surrendered: A 40 Day Devotional Based on the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem. It has daily prayers such as this one: “God, today I confess that I am too controlling. It is fear, I know, that keeps me from trusting you. Help me to let go of the fear and take hold of your unfailing, unwavering hand. Teach me to trust you—and in trusting to let go of all that I am. It is there I will find peace. Amen.”
Second, commit to fasting at least one day a week. Fasting is the second of the three main pillars of Lent. There are some churches that require fasting for those who are able to do it safely. I don’t like required fasts, but Jesus fasted and he clearly expected his disciples (that’s us) to fast after he was gone. I don’t know many Christians today who fast with any regularity, if ever. So why not give fasting a try? It is a very ancient Christian practice to fast every Friday, because that’s the day that Jesus died on the cross. Commit to eating and drinking nothing but water until 5 PM every Friday this Lent.
Third, identify someone who is in need that you can help financially, or give more than you usually do to a charitable organization. Almsgiving is the third and final main pillar of Lenten discipline. “Alms” is an old word for money or food donated to the poor. When an angel appeared to Cornelius, the angel said, “your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God” (Acts 10:31).
Fourth, take church more seriously than ever before. Come every time that the doors are open. Come on purpose. Come to hear from God. Come extra early. Kneel at your pew/chair before service and pray. Open your heart and listen more attentively than ever before. Go to every special service that your church has, such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services.
Finally, pick one new spiritual discipline to explore. Memorize a psalm like Psalm 51, “Create in me a clean heart,” or Psalm 139, “Search me O God and know my heart.” The catechism book also has some great exercises. Pray the Examen on page 241 every day. Memorize and sing the same hymn every day, such as “I Want a Principle Within.” Go over the questions for Self-Examination on page 240 a few times a week (Wesley used these every day). Pray through the Prayers of Confession and Consecration that start on page 264, and make them your own. Read one of the spiritual classics on page 296, like Jeremy Taylor’s Holy Living and Dying. The options are endless. For guidance, ask your pastor.
Like everything else in life, you only get out of it what you put into it. Only God’s grace can transform us, but we must respond to God’s prompting to create space and structure for his grace to flow to us. Grace is opposed to earning, not to effort. If we coast through Lent and do the bare minimum, we’ll arrive at Easter just the way that we are right now. But if we dig in and seek God with our whole heart, we will arrive with hearts fully prepared and our joy will be deeper because we are more deeply rooted in Christ.
