Reconnect with Jesus and renew yourself spiritually during Lent 2020
It’s time for Lent 2020! Go ahead and treat yourself to a little self-indulgence and temporary collapse of self-discipline on Fat Tuesday; have a little party. After that last hurrah, get ready to be very disciplined about committing to the hardships of Lent starting Wednesday, February 26, and lasting for forty days (in actuality more) until Easter 2020.
Lent of course is not something that’s observed by every denomination in Christianity (although many observe it). Regardless, I think every Christian can benefit from observing Lent in their own way, denying themselves and their desires and engaging in the spiritual exercises of their choice.
The Reason for the Season
Lent is a solemn season of repentance, penance, prayer, fasting (for some), and denying ourselves. All this is in preparation for the joyous occasion of Easter, when we celebrate the resurrection of LORD Jesus Christ. Before the joy of that, we endure a little suffering in honor and gratitude of the suffering Jesus endured for us.
It’s a season for keeping God at the forefront of our thoughts. It’s a season for drawing closer to God in every way we can. It’s a season for praying to Jesus every day, confessing our sins, repenting of them, asking for forgiveness, and thanking Jesus for the sacrifice He endured on our behalf.
As Christians it’s best if we seek God and try to draw closer to Him all the time, not just during any particular season, but the season of Lent is a particularly good time for seeking Jesus. We have a faith based on the forgiveness of our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, so now is the best time to honor that unfathomable sacrifice by confessing our sins, putting our faith in Jesus that He will forgive us and cleanse us of our sins (1 John 1:9), and thanking Jesus for dying for us that we may attain life everlasting. This is an annual renewal, a mental refresher of what Jesus signifies for mankind and a chance to revitalize our relationship with Him.
A Suitable Sacrifice
It is only right we endure hardship during the season of Lent leading up to Easter. Jesus didn’t only suffer on the cross…
