What is the purpose of Lent?
Christians celebrate Lent for the purpose of growing closer to God.
How?
First, through humility. Remembering who we are and Who God is and acknowledging our dependence on Him.
For some Christians, Lent starts with an Ash Wednesday service. The community of believers gather together to acknowledge that they are sinners, repent of their sins, acknowledge that God is a merciful, forgiving, faithful, and loving God. We come before Him admitting our weakness, repenting of our sins, and asking for His forgiveness. As part of the service, ashes are placed on the forehead in the symbol of the cross with the reminder from ashes we came – to ashes, we will return. It is through humility that our hands and heart are open to receive God’s grace.
Secondly, some Christians use a spiritual discipline called fasting to draw closer to God. I have found the best way to benefit from this discipline is to let the Holy Spirit guide on what to fast from. He will guide you to fast from something that is pulling you away from your dependence on God and putting your dependence on “it.” Some traditions fast for six days of the week and on Sunday, The Lord’s day, feast or allow themselves that item or activity as a celebration – since Sunday is considered a mini Easter celebration – celebrating the Resurrected King Jesus.
The following are examples of ways to fast and how you may draw closer to God through the fast:
Fast from a meal and spend the time you would have spent eating – reading the Bible, meditating on the Lord, or praying.
Fast from caffeine. When your energy drops turn to the Lord and ask for His Holy Spirit to give you the energy you need to get through your day. You are acknowledging that God is the Provider of all things.
Fast from nervous eating. When you feel the compulsion to use food to cope with a situation – stop – turn to the Lord in prayer – ask Him to carry your burden and give you grace.
Fast from electronics (TV, phone/computer games, etc.). Spend the time you would have spent on these activities in prayer, the study of Scripture, meditating on the Lord, enjoying God’s creation through nature, etc. – any activity that helps you grow closer to Him.
Why do some Christians fast for forty days?
“Forty Days matching the number of days for which the Spirit had led Jesus into the wilderness after his baptism and before the start of his public ministry in the synoptic tradition” (Connell, 2006 p. 75).
During those forty days in the wilderness, Jesus fasted. (Matthew 4:2)
“The number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation” (biblestudy.org)
In conclusion, Christians participate in Lenten practices to draw closer to God. Jesus asks us to “remember” Him. He said, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, NIV). Lent is a duration of time where we are preparing our hearts and minds – meditating on the incredible gift we receive from God through Christ Jesus! It’s a time of self-sacrifice, commitment, growth, and anticipation for the upcoming joyful celebration of Easter.
References:
Connell, M (2006). Eternity Today. On the liturgical year. Vol. 2
New York, NY: The Continuum International Publishing Group.
Bible Study Meaning of Numbers in the Bible. Retrieved from html: https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/40.html