A Different Kind Of Lent

A different kind of lent.

I had a different post in mind, but when God presses in on you, it’s time to listen.

Lent started yesterday and it’s about 40 days of giving something up. But how seriously do we take this? Are you in the category of let’s say giving up sugar, or your favorite latte, or chocolate?

These are all good things to cut back on, and going cold turkey for 40 days could really have a positive impact on your health. But here’s the question. Does it grow you closer to God?

Is there a lasting heart transformation in you? The answer is probably not.

I’m guilty of this in the past, and now I see how shallow it was for me because after the 40 days I would probably go back to those things that I like.

Short-term pain? Not really. Maybe a little sacrifice, but not much.

I’m sensing that God wants us all to go deeper, much deeper. When I think of Lent, I think of sacrifice. There is some pain involved. Soul and heart pain.

That’s how change comes. It’s through the pruning and sanctification process of Christ making us more like him.

So what if you decided to have a different approach for lent this year in giving up something for God?

If lent isn’t something you have practiced in the past, it can still be a timeframe for you to begin a journey of change.

Giving up something that could truly make you a different person at the end of 40 days.

Let’s get serious and see what this could look like. Here are some suggestions.

Complaining. When your inconvenienced and things don’t go your way.

Lack of gratitude. Choosing not to see the blessings in your life, and not being satisfied.

Judging others. Finding fault, and judging too quickly or too harshly.

Pride. Thinking your way is the only way, or elevating yourself above others in the way you look at them.

Your words. Not thinking before you speak, which can lead to judging and complaining, and hurt feelings.

Fear and Insecurity. Making excuses because these 2 things rule your life.

The list could go on and on. You know what you struggle with and where you want to be different. Don’t give in to the lie that you will always be the same in a certain area and that you will never change.

There is hope!

What if every time for the next 40 days if you found yourself slipping into a bad attitude or your words reveal the attitude of your heart, you took it to God?

That you tell Him you don’t want to be the same person you have always been with the same old bad habits. You want to be different, you want to see lasting change. You want to be different at the end of 40 days.

If you really want to change it’s going to get uncomfortable. What you used to do or say is now going to feel a lot more heavy. You might have some tears along the way because soul work is hard work. It’s hard to look at yourself with true honesty.

You can do this.

If we truly want to be different in 40 days, I feel we need to feel the weight of blind areas in our lives. That we need to let God cut away the things and attitudes that keep us stuck and hinders our growth.

And you know what, that transforming power can hurt. It makes us look at ourselves honestly, and we can either let pride have its way and we stay the same or we can let God’s mercy and grace continue the molding process that he always had in mind for us to draw us closer to Him.

Let’s have a different lent this year.

Go deeper with your faith walk and go after a lasting change that can impact you, your family, and your world.

In 40 days that can be you.

Your heart will be one of remembrance, where gratitude reigns.

Your words can be filled with more grace towards others, which lets them know they are loved and cherished.

Pride won’t rule you anymore and you will have a lot more peace.