During Lent this year…Don’t give up something…Add something!!! - by Kelvin Fizzell

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, it begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes 40 days later on Easter Sunday. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus…His life and ministry, His suffering and sacrifice on the cross, His death and burial, and most importantly His resurrection from the grave. What should be a time of eager anticipation…an opportunity to personally connect with the life and love of Jesus Christ…many Christians look upon the season of Lent with dread because they feel obligated to “give up” something as a sign of personal sacrifice. I can relate. As a child growing up in a very traditional Catholic home, it was expected (aka demanded) that I give up candy during Lent. Rather than focusing during those 40 days on the sacrifice that Jesus made for me on the cross, all I would really think about was how marvelous that chocolate bunny was going to taste on Easter morning. For me, doing without something temporarily as a way to redirect my focus from earthly things to the teachings of Jesus simply did not work. If anything, I was more focused on what I was giving up.

If you truly want to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus, the Lenten season should not be about “giving up” something in your everyday life. Rather, it should be more about “adding” something. I would like to suggest several possibilities for significant “additions” that will enhance your spiritual growth during Lent:

·         Add prayer: Spend a few minutes at the beginning of each day asking for God’s guidance and direction throughout the day and then rely on Him to help you with every action you take and every decision you make. Take a few moments as the family gathers around the evening meal (yes, you can do this at the drive-thru) and thank God for His many blessings. Spend a few more minutes at bedtime, reflecting on the positive impact He had on your day.

·         Add Bible reading: Read one verse or paragraph from the Bible each day. There’s insight, encouragement, and peace of mind you will experience first-hand…an experience you will not find in any other book or publication. To help you, take advantage of the Redeemer monthly Bible Scripture readings. You can find these readings on the Redeemer web site or look for the printed copy in the worship folder at the beginning of each month.

·         Add good works: Members of the congregation who took part in “Take-Five” last spring discovered the powerful and multiplying effects of intentional “small acts of kindness”. God uses the small acts of individuals to accomplish mighty aspects of His Divine Plan. If you want others to see the “life and love of Jesus”, let them see it through the small acts of kindness you do for them or the acts they see you do for others.

·         Add worship: As a family, join other members of the congregation in weekly worship. Worshiping together with others strengthens our faith, fills us with hope and encouragement, and shows us how to give love to others. There is nothing more important on Sunday morning than worshiping God.

To help you this Lenten season, we will provide an important resource that incorporates many of these ideas. On Sunday March 2, members of the congregation will be given a devotional that includes a daily prayer, daily scripture reading, and ideas on how to bless others. Use this resource to “add” things to your Lenten season this year and you will have a clearer vision of Jesus the Risen Savior come Easter Sunday morning.