A Lenten Journey
by Katie Harding on February 28, 2022
Yesterday at church we were reminded that this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Not all churches observe Ash Wednesday, but my church does with a special mid-week service.
I became aware of Lent in my 20’s when a neighbor gave up sweets for six weeks and then invited me to a Sunday outing for ice cream — because the 40 days of Lent don’t include Sundays. The 40 days, representative of Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting in the wilderness, begin this year on March 2 and end on Maundy Thursday, April 14.
Today I have been reflecting on what to give up for Lent because there is a purpose to the fasting other than simply abstaining from something. Knowing what I’m fasting for can be even more important than what I’m fasting from. This year, I want to be very intentional to observe Lent as a time for re-centering my soul on Christ.
As I think about re-centering, I’m wondering: Is there an area of my life where I feel it’s out of alignment? Is there something Jesus has asked me to do or not to do where I’m not following through? Is there an action, attitude, or appetite for something that needs addressing? Jesus said, “‘All those who love me will do what I say’” (John 14:23a). Obedience seems to goes hand in hand with re-centering. This will be my fasting for. The next step will be deciding what to fast from.
Knowing what I’m fasting for, is even more important to me than what I’m fasting from.
As a teen, when my dad wanted to change our behaviors, he would discipline us by taking away that which meant the most. It was as if my dad would put us on an intentional fast, so we could re-center our lives around what we were being asked to do or not do. For me, I was forced to fast from the phone, as my best friend lived in the country, and the phone was the way we stayed in touch. The fast always brought about the right change — at least until the next time.
Selecting what I’m fasting from will be a matter of deciding what will bring about the desired result. What can I remove from my life to give me the space to re-center my soul on Christ and be more obedient to His commands? It’s not about behavior modification, which is what my dad was aiming for, but heart transformation — allowing Jesus to make changes from the inside out. The decision of what to fast from will take intentionality and a commitment to adhere to the fast for 40 days, as change takes time.
Whether you have observed Lent before or not, I invite you to join me this year on this Lenten Journey. It will be a journey of regeneration. A time of dying to something in one area of life, so rebirth can occur in another. It won’t be easy because pruning hurts, but the joy of the journey will be worth it. Let me know if you’re in.