Today marks the beginning of the season of Lent. This is a time for reflection and contemplation, as well as focusing on our walk with Jesus. We rememgber that Jesus has called us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Here are some ways that you can keep a Holy lent and create new spiritual patterns to connect with God over the next 46 days leading up to Easter:
Reduce/limit Streaming and Screen Time
No matter what age or situation you are in, this one applies to you. Screen time and streaming services rule mobile devices and smart T.V.s. Consider setting some boundaries with your family during the Season to focus your time with one another instead of separated by the screens that take up your time. For example, our family is limiting screen time to non school days. In the evenings, we will focus on spending time with one another. If we are using the T.V., it will be when we watch something together. We have the habit of scrolling through Facebook or Instagram instead of spending time with one another. God has called each one of us to our families first—and we are not following God’s call to live life with our families when we are living life somewhere else through our screens.
Fast from Lunch on day a Week
Fasting and prayer are almost always linked together in the Scriptures. With that said, modern Christians don’t do a great job with fasting. An easy way to begin is intentionally fasting from one lunch a week. Instead, try spending your lunch break in intentional prayer, reading scripture, or journaling. Creating this pattern over a few weeks will make a difference in your walk with God.
Forgive Someone
Yes, this one will take you out of your comfort zone, but could be the most powerful practice you do during Lent. Seek out someone who has wronged you, and forgive them! Let them know that they are forgiven. Maybe this is some sort of conversation over coffee or a letter written and mailed. Forgiveness sets people free, and we are called to forgive others as our Heavenly Father has forgiven us (Matthew 6:14-15). Here is what I have found about forgiveness—sometimes the power of speaking the words of forgiveness to another changes the forgiver more than the one who did the wrong. We all need forgiveness, why not take the time to forgive those that have wronged you so we all can grow closer to Jesus?
Eat Dinner together
A lost art in many places. Everyone has to each, yet there are many that eat alone. If you are like me, you may have to take turns eating with your spouse so that the kids can be fed. Try to take one night a week (at least) to sit around one table, eat, and have a conversation with one another. Eating around tables is one of the most Biblical things you can do—just read how many times Jesus ate with people, and you will understand!
Holy Spring Cleaning
You may already do Spring Cleaning—but has it been holy? Throughout Lent, find some things in your house that you would like to donate to a local nonprofit organization. You can easily do this with kids that have toys to give away, or other things in your house that could be a blessing to another family or home. If that doesn’t motivate you—having less clutter in your life might do the trick. Besides, were our heart is, there are treasure will be also. Make good decisions in what you treasure in your home.
Start a new Habit
Studies say it takes three weeks to start a new habit, so why not start a holy one during lent? Maybe it is working on a constant bed time, allotted time for devotions, spending more time with your kids, exercising, etc. We all need new habit to replace old ones. Jesus does some transformational work when we have patterns in place in our lives to worship Him!
Remember your Baptism
This is probably the easiest practice you could take part of during lent. When you shower or wash your hair, remember your baptism and how God has made you a new creation. Remember how God has saved you from your sin as the water hits your head. When we remember our baptism, we remember that God is still at work in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Increase your generosity
Lent is a time of sacrificing ourselves by taking up our cross and following Jesus. Extending our generosity is part of the sacrifice that we can make. This lent, consider sacrificing something you want for the sake of increasing your generosity to others, whether that means giving more to the church, a favorite nonprofit, or start giving to another organization. God calls us to be generous as part of our sacrifice as we walk with Jesus.
9. Start a Bible Reading Plan
This may be obvious—consider reading your Bible more often! There are hundreds of reading plans on the YouVersion Bible app, many that focus on the forty days of Lent.
10. Journal
This is something that I have always wanted to start—but haven’t had the discipline to do so. Journaling can be done in multiple ways, but the most common way to start is with a couple sentences reflecting on how you have seen God at work during your day. Some like journaling more than others, and it is something that can capture your thoughts and experiences of the Holy Spirit’s transformation.
Yes, these are a lot of options. Try starting one or choosing something that I may not have written. Either way— I want to encourage you to keep a holy Lent. Focus on how God will work in and through you for these coming weeks. I pray that all of us can use this season as an opportunity for the Spirit to speak in a profound way.