LENT Is the 40 days leading up to Easter beginning on what is called Ash Wednesday and ending at Passover (technically not including Sundays which are considered celebratory days). It is a season of reflection and preparation that is marked by fasting from some (or all) food or from a particular activity. Fasting is a regular part of a Christian’s life and involves refraining from food or activities for a spiritual purpose.
When you fast, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of the world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God. Fasting helps us focus on God and exercise discipline in our life. Externally, Lent is a time of doing without; a time of self-denial, fasting and repentance. But inwardly, Lent is a time of drawing closer to Jesus. We recommit ourselves to God, to be open to His Spirit, His voice, His power and His freedom.
This year Lent begins on Wednesday March 5th and we are encouraging you to choose something to fast for the season of Lent in order to increase sensitivity to God and to see breakthrough in your life and family and in our church.
When you fast, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of the world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God. Fasting helps us focus on God and exercise discipline in our life. Externally, Lent is a time of doing without; a time of self-denial, fasting and repentance. But inwardly, Lent is a time of drawing closer to Jesus. We recommit ourselves to God, to be open to His Spirit, His voice, His power and His freedom.
This year Lent begins on Wednesday March 5th and we are encouraging you to choose something to fast for the season of Lent in order to increase sensitivity to God and to see breakthrough in your life and family and in our church.
Use the prompts & verses below
to guide you
through the season of Lent
WEEK 1 (Beginning 3/5): Repent & Turn from Sin
Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, the 40 days (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. It’s not a commanded practice, but many people take it as an opportunity to repent and draw closer to Jesus.
Practicing Lent helps us focus on turning FROM sins and distracting habits and TO God.
As we press into God anew, we recommit to being open to His Spirit, His voice, His power and His freedom.
We become less satisfied with the things of this world.
Our hunger to know God is sharpened.
And we recognize that our soul will be satisfied by NOTHING but Jesus.
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord and he will have mercy on them… Isaiah 55:6-7
Turn to me now, while there is still time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning…tear your hearts…return to the Lord your God for he is merciful and compassionate… Joel 2:12-13
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Jeremiah 31:34
Practicing Lent helps us focus on turning FROM sins and distracting habits and TO God.
As we press into God anew, we recommit to being open to His Spirit, His voice, His power and His freedom.
We become less satisfied with the things of this world.
Our hunger to know God is sharpened.
And we recognize that our soul will be satisfied by NOTHING but Jesus.
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord and he will have mercy on them… Isaiah 55:6-7
Turn to me now, while there is still time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning…tear your hearts…return to the Lord your God for he is merciful and compassionate… Joel 2:12-13
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Jeremiah 31:34
WEEK 2 (Beginning 3/12): God Keeps His Promises
In Genesis 6 God preserves the lives of Noah and his family during a world-wide flood. When Noah and his family exited the ark, God made a promise to them saying,
I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will floodwater destroy all life. Genesis 9:13-15
This is more about God than it is water. As we press into God, we find that he is trustworthy and that he keeps his promises.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Joshua 23:14
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145:13
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves….they all ate and were satisfied…the number of men who had eaten was five thousand. Mark 6:41-44
I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will floodwater destroy all life. Genesis 9:13-15
This is more about God than it is water. As we press into God, we find that he is trustworthy and that he keeps his promises.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Joshua 23:14
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145:13
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves….they all ate and were satisfied…the number of men who had eaten was five thousand. Mark 6:41-44
WEEK 3 (Beginning 3/19): God Desires Relationship
Beginning with creation, the Bible is a story of God desiring a deep and personal relationship with humans. He invites us to walk in love, trust and communion with Him.
Through his grace, he pursues us; his kindness and love chasing us down.
We run. We hide.
We fear losing control.
We don’t trust such generosity.
Lent is a time to stop running. Lent is a time to allow ourselves to be caught and embraced by God’s love.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life… Psalm 23:6
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. Leviticus 26:12
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
…you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel…Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Psalm 73:23-25
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. 1 John 3:1
Through his grace, he pursues us; his kindness and love chasing us down.
We run. We hide.
We fear losing control.
We don’t trust such generosity.
Lent is a time to stop running. Lent is a time to allow ourselves to be caught and embraced by God’s love.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life… Psalm 23:6
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. Leviticus 26:12
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
…you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel…Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Psalm 73:23-25
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. 1 John 3:1
WEEK 4 (Beginning 3/26): Pain Brings Transformation
CS Lewis suggested that pain is God’s megaphone to arouse a deaf world.
Pain gets our attention, alerts us that something is wrong and sometimes pain works for our good.
Pain can bring spiritual growth and endurance.
Pain can refine and purify us.
Pain can draw us closer to God, help us comfort others and ultimately transform us by teaching us to trust God even when we don’t understand.
Lent is a time to embrace discomfort and even pain for the lessons they can teach us.
… we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:6
But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Praise be to … the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Pain gets our attention, alerts us that something is wrong and sometimes pain works for our good.
Pain can bring spiritual growth and endurance.
Pain can refine and purify us.
Pain can draw us closer to God, help us comfort others and ultimately transform us by teaching us to trust God even when we don’t understand.
Lent is a time to embrace discomfort and even pain for the lessons they can teach us.
… we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:6
But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Praise be to … the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
WEEK 5 (Beginning 4/2): Wait on the Lord
Waiting on God means we don’t have to strive.
When we strive, we force things to happen in our own strength and we usually end up feeling exhausted, anxious and frustrated.
Waiting on God is not passive, it is actively choosing to trust God, surrender control and believe that God’s timing and ways are better.
Waiting on God teaches us patience, deepens our faith and prepares us for his best. It’s in the waiting that we learn to align ourselves with God’s will.
They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength Isaiah 40:31
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him… Psalm 37:7
For my thoughts are not your thought, neither are my ways your ways Isaiah 55:8
Then the Lord came and stood there, calling…then Samuel said ‘speak, for your servant is listening.’ 1 Samuel 3:10
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
When we strive, we force things to happen in our own strength and we usually end up feeling exhausted, anxious and frustrated.
Waiting on God is not passive, it is actively choosing to trust God, surrender control and believe that God’s timing and ways are better.
Waiting on God teaches us patience, deepens our faith and prepares us for his best. It’s in the waiting that we learn to align ourselves with God’s will.
They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength Isaiah 40:31
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him… Psalm 37:7
For my thoughts are not your thought, neither are my ways your ways Isaiah 55:8
Then the Lord came and stood there, calling…then Samuel said ‘speak, for your servant is listening.’ 1 Samuel 3:10
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
WEEK 6 (Beginning 4/9): Breakthrough
The God of the gospel brings life out of death.
No matter your failures, shortcomings or sin, God can bring dead relationships, dead finances, dead dreams and even dead bodies back to life.
After spending many weeks aligning ourselves with God, we see that he probes, prunes, and produces new things in us.
He probes the deepest parts of our hearts and lives.
He prunes the branches of habits, relationships, regrets and apathy that are not productive.
This act of pruning produces new space for new possibilities and new life. Pruning encourages fruit of growth and life. This is breakthrough.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head. Micah 2:13
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17
Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Hosea 6:1-2
This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life…I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Exodus 37:5
No matter your failures, shortcomings or sin, God can bring dead relationships, dead finances, dead dreams and even dead bodies back to life.
After spending many weeks aligning ourselves with God, we see that he probes, prunes, and produces new things in us.
He probes the deepest parts of our hearts and lives.
He prunes the branches of habits, relationships, regrets and apathy that are not productive.
This act of pruning produces new space for new possibilities and new life. Pruning encourages fruit of growth and life. This is breakthrough.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head. Micah 2:13
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17
Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Hosea 6:1-2
This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life…I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Exodus 37:5
EASTER WEEK
Palm Sunday/Jesus’ Triumphal Entry: they took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted “Hosanna!” John 12:13
Holy Monday/Cleansing of the Temple: My Temple will be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves. Luke 19:45
Holy Tuesday/Teaching: The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. Luke 20:17
Spy Wednesday/Judas agrees to betray Jesus: …Judas, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. Luke 22:3-4
Maundy Thursday/The Last Supper & Betrayal: Maundy means commandment and refers to Jesus, in the upper room during the Passover room saying to his disciples A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34
Good Friday/Jesus’ Crucifixion: Jesus said; ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’ Luke 23:34
Holy Saturday/The Silent Day: [his body] was wrapped in a long sheet of cloth and placed in a tomb carved out of a rock…so they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it. Matthew 27:59 & 65
Easter Sunday/Jesus’ Resurrection! He is not here, he has RISEN, just as he said!” Matthew 28:6
Holy Monday/Cleansing of the Temple: My Temple will be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves. Luke 19:45
Holy Tuesday/Teaching: The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. Luke 20:17
Spy Wednesday/Judas agrees to betray Jesus: …Judas, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. Luke 22:3-4
Maundy Thursday/The Last Supper & Betrayal: Maundy means commandment and refers to Jesus, in the upper room during the Passover room saying to his disciples A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34
Good Friday/Jesus’ Crucifixion: Jesus said; ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’ Luke 23:34
Holy Saturday/The Silent Day: [his body] was wrapped in a long sheet of cloth and placed in a tomb carved out of a rock…so they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it. Matthew 27:59 & 65
Easter Sunday/Jesus’ Resurrection! He is not here, he has RISEN, just as he said!” Matthew 28:6