In years past, my view of lent was to give up something. (Example: sugar or TV)
I feel like my reasoning for doing it was benefit myself, definitely not God. If I gave up sugar maybe I could get a jump start on my diet. If I gave up TV I'd have more time to get things done around the house. My whole view was totally messed up.
This year I have been looking into why we do lent. I learned about the history of Jesus fasting in the desert for 40 days, resisting temptation. I learned about when you fast you should make it between you and God. I know we have all encountered the "fasters" that complain for 40 days about how they can't wait to have a piece of chocolate. I also learned that instead of give up something, you could give something instead. Making a difference in the world for 40 days would do us all good.
All this got my thinking about what I want to do this year. I feel like my quiet times and prayer life exists when it's convenient for me. I lack the constant relationship with him. If I treated my earthly friends the way I did God I don't think I would have very many. I also struggle with pride, envy, laziness, patience...just to name a few. Could I focus on working on one of those for 40 days?
Than I thought, what's in my life that I put before him? I fill my time with working out, work (sometimes I consider that my mission field :), watching TV, internet time, time with hubby, playing with Lucy. The list could go on and on, so the question is what could I give up to honor God and make him #1.
What's your take on Lent? Do you participate in it?
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Great thoughts Amanda. I chose to give up wine for lent this year because I was going through a similar list of whys and how does this impact my relationship with God this morning.
I chose to give up wine because I think it will be the most difficult thing for me to give up and I think it will force me to trust God more. My hope is to cling to God more than I do now over the next 40 days.
I hope I don't complain and it was good to hear that my fasting should be between me and God, because there is a part of me that wants to get the glory for it.
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