This is not my own writing..but for the sake of presenting some facts about the Lenten Season....
The highlight of the year for
Christians is Easter, the day when our
Lord rose from the dead. Lent is a
forty-day season of preparation for
Easter. Lent always begins on a
Wednesday, called Ash Wednesday.
Why 40 days? Because, Jesus fasted and
was tempted in the wilderness for 40
days. Lent, then, is our time of
fasting, prayer, temptation and
repentance. Lent is not required
anywhere in scriptures, but it has
been a custom, which Christians have
practiced for most of the last two
thousand years.
In many languages, the word "Lent"
actually means "fast." This is where
the custom of giving up something for
Lent originated.
However, just to confuse things, Lent
is actually 46 days rather than 40
days. Why? Because the 40 days of Lent
are supposed to be days of fasting,
which means days of discipline and
self-restraint. But Sunday, the Lord's
Day, should never be a day of fasting,
but a day of celebration! So each
Sunday we suspend our Lenten
disciplines and celebrate. Lent is
40 "fasting" days spread out over a
total of 46 days beginning on Ash
Wednesday.
The focus of Lent was always
threefold:
It was a time to prepare new converts
for baptism through intensive classes
and instruction.
It was a time for long-standing
Christians to review their lives and
renew their commitment to Jesus
Christ.
It was a time for backsliders to be
restored to the faith.
In every case, it is a time for
serious, disciplined self-examination,
a time spent in intensive prayer and
repentance before the cross of
Calvary.
To represent the dark and serious
business of Lent, one custom has been
to strip the sanctuary of all flowers,
candles, and colors during Lent. This
custom helps us to turn inward and
examine ourselves, even as it reminds
us of the dark and colorless Sabbath
day when Jesus lay dead in the tomb.
Put simply, Lent is a time to examine
ourselves carefully. Here are some
questions upon which you might pray
and meditate during Lent:
Am I sharing gladly what I have with
others, especially the stranger and
the poor?
Do I have a gracious and patient
attitude with others, especially those
who irritate me?
Do I feel the power of connection to
God and the church in corporate
worship?
How is my devotional and prayer life
progressing? Am I listening to God
more and complaining less? Is it time
for a change or a growth in my Bible
study and prayer life?
What are the lurking sin problems,
which still plague me?
Am I as thoughtful and forgiving of
family as others, or do I take my
frustrations out on them?
Do I speak up for the maligned and
oppressed, or do I remain silent in
order to remain popular?
