Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of 40 days and 40 nights of Lent for many Christians. What are you giving up? Or more importantly, what are you going to do?
The three things I heard this week to do for the Lenten season were fast on Ash Wednesday and Fridays, carve out more time for daily prayer and do good works.
Yes, I’m hungry, and probably will be every Friday, craving a fat juicy steak that I’d normally not care about. It’s a funny thing when you can’t have something, you fixate on it.
Second, I will find time to pray more. If you believe that prayers make a difference in this world, then more prayer is a good idea.
Third, there is the part about doing good works. I think that is most difficult of all. Off the top of my head I don’t know what “good works” I will do. However, I am confident that if I keep my eyes open and look around me, I’ll see small ways where I can make a difference.
I remember when my daughter was in elementary school, she told me she was giving up piano lessons for Lent!
If you observe Lent, I’d like to know what you are doing for Lent. Are you giving something up or adding something like good works?
The month of Ramadan is starting in a month for Muslims. We fast daily from around 90 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Praying, reading Quran and generally behaving well is a must while fasting. This year I won’t be able to fast but I’ll follow the rest.
That’s a lot more intense for fasting than Lent.
Fasting is good for the soul.
I’ll try to keep that in mind 😊
Take care
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I plan on giving up live, meaningful conversation with people outside my family. They never end up well anyway.
That’s a good plan. You’ll save time and aggravation.
I’ll have to think about that one. I went to a Catholic grammar school so I was used to fasting back then but I’ve gotten out of the practice. I like the “do good things” better.
I’m going to go to Ash Wednesday service today. I stopped going to church during COVID. I guess we didn’t have church and I got out of the habit, too.
I definitely believe in the power of prayer and have been doing that more diligently . As far as giving up something, I don’t typically do that, but I may. I think the most important thing about Lent, is simply preparing your heart for celebrating the true meaning of Easter. <3
I agree with you 100%. I feel excited this year to be prepared for Easter.
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