Today marks the first day of what many people observe as Lent.  It is the 40-day countdown leading to Easter.  I have already heard  people talking about things that they are going to give up for Lent.  Some of the these things include the standard: Soda, coffee, TV, fast food, and all the other addictive things in our society.  But the truth is most people just give up something, because it is Lent, or because it is tradition. Worse yet I have heard people that believe that by fasting from something at Lent, they are earning favor with God.  Both reasons, especially the latter, are extremely unbiblical.

In previous years I too have found myself caught up in the warped thought, that fasting from something for Lent is just what we do as Christians.  The Christ has been taken out of this Christian Tradition.  Some people, including myself in previous years, need a newsflash that reads “Lent is ALL about Jesus”.  There is nothing else to it.  If we observe Lent, but don’t know how it relates to Jesus and what He did for us on the cross, then we are performing a Christ-less Religious Tradition.  How then can we bring Jesus back into Lent?

The goal of Lent, or any fast for that matter is to deny your flesh and grow and feast on Jesus.  The time that was previously spent of the things that are being fasted needs to be filled with Jesus.  The best way to grow towards Jesus during Lent is to dedicate more time to Him.  This starts with the reading of His Word, and increased prayer.  Another great way to grow towards Jesus during Lent, is to decide on one or two cross-centered books that you will read during the 40-day period.  I hope and pray that you will chose to read the Bible, pray, read some Cross-Centered books and more during Lent.  Some great Cross-Centered books include: Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper, Chosen By God by R.C. Sproul, and Crazy Love by Francis Chan. 

I will leave you with an inspiring quote by Nancy DeMoss “How about you? Do you have any plans to fast from something in order to feast on Christ between now and Resurrection Day?”

How can we expect to know what God’s plan is for our lives if we don’t read HIS WORD?

“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17

There may not be a verse in the Bible that is more personal and comforting than this one.  This is a verse that everyone needs to really meditate on.  When I read this verse I always imagine a father standing over his crying son after he has fallen and scraped his knee.  The father then picks up his son and takes his thumb and wipes away the tears from his son’s eyes.  The son feels the embrace of his father and the comfort in knowing that he will always be there when he is hurting. That is exactly how we need to feel when we are in pain.  When we are hurting inside, God is our Father and our Comforter.  It is almost impossible to explain the comfort and security that God shows his children in this verse, but just remember that in times of pain and suffering our Father in Heaven is ready to wipe the tears away from our eyes.

You cannot earn this, it is given to you by God. That’s why it is called Grace; there are not conditions to it.