It's Not Too Late! Lent - Part Two

Observing Lent Through Spiritual Practices
by Sibyl Towner with Joan Kelley

Related to the Life-Giving Rhythms Map from Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story by Sibyl Towner and Sharon Swing.

Lent is a season of remembering our sinfulness as well as our mortality and our need for God’s daily grace in order to live. But how can we truly enter into the Lenten season with humility and simplicity so that we might receive God’s grace in a new and joyful way? How can we weave the themes of Lent into our daily lives? I think we can do that by seeking out spiritual practices which help us turn from our self centeredness and turn toward grace filled humility.

Lent calls us to the discipline of abstaining from things that make us feel significant or that comfort us. Fasting during Lent is a tradition that has been a practice for a very long time. Food is a reminder of our physical needs and our life here and now. Limiting our eating with some form of fasting reminds us there is more to life than food. “Jesus answered, It is written: ‘People do not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

Some people intentionally forgo some other attachment that is keeping them from a more honest relationship with God. Food is only one option, but what about shopping, work, media? Another practical application of this is a more focused practice of Sabbath where we intentionally rest in order to be reminded that the Lord is the ruler of all – and we are not.

Lent can also call us to a discipline of engagement. We can journey together as a family as we read through the Gospel accounts. Walking ‘The Stations of the Cross’ at a church or retreat center with some friends or family engages us in the story of Jesus’ journey to Calvary, His death, burial and resurrection. When you worship with other believers, pray for those around you and invite God to use you to greet, to listen and to extend his love to someone else. Plan to celebrate the Feast of Passover and invite others to join you.

Emilie Griffin says “Lent is our chance for a fresh start, a new page. We consciously let down our defenses against the grace of God.” So observe Lent with a fresh start right where you are today. Let the resurrection have a deeper meaning in your heart this year.

Scripture

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you.”-- Psalm 51:10-12

Questions

• What might be a spiritual practice that will pull you closer to God?
• How will I join Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem?
• How can I enter into Lent this week? 

Prayer
Return to the Father’s House (from the Church of the Resurrection)

“Let us pray for a Lenten journey of repentance and growing reverence for God’s word. And let us pray for those far from God, especially that we may invite them into the Lord’s house on Easter. May we all return to the Father’s house.” Amen.

Sibyl Towner and Sharon Swing are co-authors of Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story, a visual workbook for small groups, mentoring relationships, workshops, retreats, classes, between spiritual friends, or individually to re-discover the storyline of the life they are authoring with God. More information is available at http://www.onelifemaps.com/.