Giving Something Up?

Have you ever given anyting up for lent. Well if you haven't been paying any attention yesterday was Ash Wednesday the first day of Lent. It is the 40 days prior to the Crucifixion and Ressurection of Jesus Christ. It is a time that many peopel enter a time of reverance and solomen reflection on what the season means and what will occur.

However for us Prostant Christians it is something that we struggle with. We either don't observe or we halfway observe. I find it so weird that people go around and ask each other, "so what are you giving up for Lent?" Then they work so hard to abstain from that one thing only to pick it right back up again after the six weeks.

This past week I was reading in Matthew 6:1 which states, "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." We need to be cautious in our giving up and acts of righteousness this time of Lent so that we don't draw attention to ourselves but only that our attention in on Christ.

I this year am not going to give anything up for Lent. However I am going to add something to my life. And hopefully at the end of the 40 days that this might become a habit. It is a spiritual discipline between me and Lord. I encourage you to do the same. To find something that you need more in your life to help you grow in Christ or to serve Christ or to reachout with the Love of Christ.

Good luck! And may the next 40 days be our 40 days closer to Christ! Closer to the meaning of this season, closer to the cross and closer to the reason for our Hope, Jesus Christ.