Why Observe Lent?

February 14 starts a period in the church known as Lent. It is a 40-day period of time, plus 6 Sundays, (1) where we prepare for Jesus’s death on the cross and His resurrection. It begins on Ash Wednesday, a day in the Catholic Church where people receive a cross of ashes to symbolize grieving about the sin in their lives (2). Traditionally, when observing Lent, a person would fast from food, but in today’s time, a person usually gives up something of his or her choosing (1). Some of the more common things to fast from are dessert, soda, and alcohol. It has also become popular to add something into your life instead of giving up something.

Fasting from or giving up something has many purposes. First, it represents the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before He began His ministry, as well as the sacrifice He made by dying. It also serves to reduce distraction in our lives and gives us more space to focus on our relationship with God (2). 

Words for the Year

I haven’t always observed Lent, but I have always valued the meaning behind it. This year, it hits me even harder, as it directly correlates with the words I chose for 2024. This year, my words are “let go” and “simplify”. Lent embodies my words for the year, because at its core it is a time to let go of something and simplify your life overall.

By observing Lent, you are letting go of something that is getting in the way of your relationship with God. You are letting go of sin in your life. And, by letting go of something, you are simplifying your life. You are taking away distractions and focusing on less at one time (because your main focus is your relationship with God and preparing for Jesus’s death and resurrection). You are pruning and refining your life as a whole. 

(To read about my word for 2023, check out Living an Intentional Life.)

Learning From the Past

If you receive my monthly newsletter, you may remember that I mentioned in 2023 I had a habit of buying stuff that I didn’t actually have room for, whether a place to display or store it. Because I live in a condo with my husband and our two dogs, it created a lot of clutter in our home…which, in turn, fed my anxiety and stress. I found myself constantly stressing about the clutter, picking up the clutter, trying to find places for the clutter, or organizing the clutter. Our house is in great need of a purge, and when a woman in my small group mentioned a challenge called “40 Bags in 40 Days”, I knew this would be perfect for me to do during Lent.

What exactly is the “40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge”? Basically, you clean out a different space in your home (or life) every day for 40 days. The goal is to try to fill a bag with stuff to get rid of each day. It is a way to both let go of things you don’t need and simplify your space, as well as your mind, emotions, etc. I am going to take time to notice what I have a hard time letting go of, especially if it’s something I know I don’t use. I want to evaluate my relationship with material possessions, as this is something that I know gets in the way of my relationship with God.

Give Up Your Possessions

This concept brings to mind the story Jesus tells in Matthew 19: 16-24. Basically, Jesus is talking to a man who wants to know how he can have eternal life. First, Jesus tells him to follow His commandments, which the man says he does. Then, Jesus said, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor…” (verse 21). The man was saddened by this because he was wealthy and had many belongings. Jesus goes on to tell His disciples that it is hard for those that are rich to truly follow Him. (Read full story here.)

I don’t want my possessions to get in the way of my relationship with God. At the end of the day, nothing I have here on earth is truly mine, anyway.

I’m Observing Lent…Are You?

It is not a sin to buy and have things, just like it’s not a sin to eat dessert or drink soda (or whatever you give up). But, it becomes a problem when it begins to take over your life. During this season of Lent, I want to take time to evaluate my relationship with the stuff I have. I want to let go of material possessions, simplify my space, and ultimately make more room in my mind, body, and soul for the Lord’s presence. As I make sacrifices, I will remember the sacrifice Jesus made for the world when He died on the cross.

Are you observing Lent this year? If so, what are you fasting from or giving up? Let me know by leaving a comment or on social media!