Lent Day 10, Friday, February 27, 2026

“No Caffeine”



Today’s Lenten challenge is simple:  No caffeine for twenty-four hours.

If you are reading this with a warm cup of coffee in your hand, you may want to savor that last sip. Once you set it down, the clock begins. By this time tomorrow, you are free to return to your favorite brew. See? Easy! Well, maybe not.

I am not fooling anyone, especially myself. Those who know me understand that caffeine and I are well acquainted. So yes, part of today’s challenge is personal. Moderation is easier to preach than to practice.

Of course, God created coffee beans and all the other delightful sources of caffeine. But that is not the point. God created many good things. The challenge is not the existence of good gifts. The challenge is our tendency to overindulge.

Will this be difficult? Probably. But remember, these daily Lenten challenges are not designed to set us up for failure. They are meant to offer small, attainable victories. This is not a year-long resolution. It is not even a six-week vow. It is one day.

Twenty-four hours to practice self-control. This is not about proving how strong we are. It is about discovering that we are capable of more discipline than we think. It is about remembering that we are not controlled by every craving. It is about giving God a little something to show our appreciation for the “Big somethings” the LORD gives us every day.  

Let's start with our last sip. Then, let the challenge begin. We can do this.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you created all things. It is by your will that they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11, CEB)