Last Wednesday I celebrated “Ash Wednesday,” the start of
Lent, with Eastminster Presbyterian preschoolers and families in the morning
and with our congregation and community in the evening. Throughout the day
questions came up concerning the meaning of Lent. To observe Lent well, it is
good to have a sense of the meaning of these forty days, excluding Sundays
before Easter.
Lent originated as a time for preparation for Easter. During that time Christians repent… we turn
from attitudes, thoughts and practices that fail to honor God. We seek to reorient to God’s will and
direction for our lives and community. Martin Luther taught that the essence of
Christian life is turning away from self centeredness and toward God. During Lent we focus on repentance and
reorientation.
Some questions that may help do this include: What are my habitual sins? In what ways am I living a Lukewarm
Christianity and how might I turn to love God wholeheartedly? What prayers and actions will lead me closer
to God in Christ? To whom might I/we
want to be accountable for change besides God?
In this sense, Lent is the spiritual equivalent of an annual
physical. It’s a time to take stock of
our lives and hearts. It’s a time to
live our way to a deeper faith by self-examination, self-denial, acts of
compassion, and deeper practice of spiritual disciplines such as prayer,
Scripture reading, and meditation.
In my life I have found two things. A simple Lenten practice is to give up at
least one thing that keeps me from God and add one thing that brings me
closer. For instance one year in my
Lenten season I resolved to “eat less and pray more.”
A second practice is to have prayer and accountability
partners. They help us grow and keep on
the path of God’s will. You will meet
two of my prayer and accountability partners Sunday afternoon if you come to
the Service of Installation. They are
Scott and Jane. Such partners help us
not trivialize the spiritual life and keep us focused on growth and glorification
of God. For instance, the Lent I
resolved to “eat less and pray more,” I had already shared with Scott my sense
that I was not glorifying God by my physical condition and I resolved to change
it. So when I said I would “eat less and
pray more,” he asked “and what about the exercise? Nailed!
The bottom line is we have an occasion to get serious about
our spiritual lives and Christian walk right now. May we use this season to grow as individuals
and supportive members of this faith community!
Let me or another Christian know how we might be helpful in your
development in the direction of life God desires. We don’t have to journey through Lent alone!
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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