Lent Day 2, Thursday, Feb 18, 2021

“Quick, Easy, and Helpful”

The season of Lent began yesterday with all the pomp and fanfare of a deflated balloon.  Lent, the 40-day preparation for Easter, is often accompanied by making personal sacrifices, like giving up meat on Fridays or giving up sweets entirely.  The result?  Lent is rarely greeted with smiles.  

I often try to compare Lent to Advent at Christmastime, but come on, there’s no comparison.  During Advent, we add yummy foods to our diets and receive special gifts.  During Lent, we remove favorite foods and withhold some of the blessings we received two months ago in Advent.

Lent or Advent?  That’s a dumb question.  I know (and love!) the important gift of Easter, but it seems contradictory that I should punish myself.  This is where I often mess it up.  Lent is not about punishment.  It’s about doing something for God!  Since God provided me with so much, it would seem reasonable that I could give something back.

Today’s Lenten Challenge is to pray three times.  I suppose I can do that.  Since the intent of Lent is to improve my relationship with God, then adding a few prayers to my schedule today seems like a positive place to start.  Even if I mess up any other Lenten commitments this year, better communication with God will still prove to be beneficial on the other side of Easter.

Why Pray?  Why not?  It’s super-easy and nobody even needs to know that I’m doing anything at all.  Choosing to pray doesn’t mean that I’m choosing to give up control over my life.  Rather, choosing to pray is admitting that a little help is not only needed, but very much appreciated.

Pray at least three times today!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2, NIV)