I hope you will join me during this Lenten season by using this Bible reading plan that will take you through the Gospel of John during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Likewise, I would encourage you to consider entering into some of the spiritual practices that I have suggested during this same period. Below is a simple guide to understanding and observing Lent:
Overview: Observing Lent is designed to help you participate with more knowledge, greater awareness and deeper love of Jesus during this season of the year that leads to Easter. To be sure, Lent does nothing to make you more loveable to God, it is simply a time for you to discover or rediscover the realities of God’s love for you, to partake more passionately in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and to grow in gratitude for the incredible gift given to you through Christ’s sacrifice. Maybe you grew up observing Lent, but need to get back in touch with the meaning behind it. Maybe you’ve heard of Lent, but have no idea what it is. Maybe you’re new to Christianity or are still trying to figure out who Jesus is and why his death and resurrection matters today. Whatever the case, Lent can be a transforming experience of getting to know, love and walk more intimately with Jesus as never before
When: Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 18th and ending on Easter Sunday, April 5th.
What: The term, Lent, simply has come to refer to the period or season leading up to Easter.
How: Traditionally, Christian have used this period to heighten their experience with Jesus through definite and increased times for prayer, through intentional and specific acts of devotion and through planned acts of self-denial for a definite period within or for all of Lent.
I would encourage you to prayerfully consider observing Lent through one or more of the aforementioned methods (strategic prayer, fasting, and or giving up some personal comfort in order to devote yourself to the Lord) and by specifically engaging in our daily Lenten Bible Reading and Devotional Plan in the Gospel of John.
Outcome: Again, observing Lent will not make you more lovable to God. Ritual without relationship only leads to dead religiosity. But if done with a desire to grow closer to Jesus, you will enter into a more knowledgeable and intimate walk with the Lord, and if for no other reason, that will make your effort, well, worth the effort.
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