Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the official start of Lent, a time of reflection, repentance, and what I call recalibration. Lent offers us a unique time for plumbing the depths of our hearts while communing in a more intimate way with God. Culminating in the crucifixion of Christ, Lent is viewed as a journey to the Cross. But I also view it as a journey home.
Embracing the spiritual disciplines of Lent reveals more of Christ to us, and in so doing, more of our true self, created in His image.
Though we must for the time, live in this world, God sanctified us and set us apart from the world. (John 17:15-21) Yet despite our best efforts, our flesh becomes enamored and ensnared by the world’s attractions, deceits, and miseries. Drawn in by busyness, we live distracted lives void of the silence and solitude our souls crave.
Before long, we stray from the path of contentment, joy, and love, losing our way. When once taking a moment to look around, comes the realization we are far from home.
Henri Nouwen in his book, “Bread for the Journey” says it this way:
“Going home is a lifelong journey. There are always parts of ourselves that wander off in dissipation or get stuck in resentment. Before we know it, we are lost in lustful fantasies or angry ruminations. Our night dreams and daydreams often remind us of our lostness.
Spiritual disciplines such as praying, fasting and caring are ways to help us return home. As we walk home, we often realise how long the way is. But let us not be discouraged. Jesus walks with us and speaks to us on the road. When we listen carefully, we discover that we are already home while on the way.”
Lent is a journey on holy ground. Walking the way with Jesus, we take a retrospective view of our lives realizing where we have strayed, and how to return on our journey home. While some view Lent as a time of harsh discipline, or even self-condemnation, it is neither. Instead, during Lent, we welcome Christ afresh into our past, present and future.
Our own dissipation and self-preoccupation imprison us in a dead-end cycle of discontent and disconnection from God.
Instead of finding more of God during Lent, we find our way back to His way, to a more present walk with Him. God is always present, but we are neither present nor connected to Him when we fall into self-centered living.
As with Moses and the burning bush, (Exodus 3) we must turn aside from our own way and step onto holy ground with God. Waiting until Moses stopped and approached the burning bush, before He spoke, God allowed Moses to choose his way.
We often think of this encounter as God calling out to Moses, which caused Moses to change his way. But God waited in silence for Moses to choose turning aside to learn more.
By choosing a heightened pursuit of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, silence and solitude, we turn aside to hear what God is speaking to us.
We have no requirement to observe Lent, but rather an invitation beckoning us to turn aside from busyness, distraction, disconnection and self-centered living to a journey home with Jesus Christ.
This year as I look again to redirect my steps from my own way to the way of Jesus that my heart might be transformed, and in knowing Him more intimately, that I would experience the fullest joy of His presence, I choose a deeper immersion into the spiritual disciplines of Lent.
A few of my favorite resources are listed below in case you prefer some new inspiration for your own Lenten journey home.
Lenten Resources
Journey to the Cross: A 40 Day Lenten Devotional by Paul Tripp invites you into the Joy of Christ as you seek to know him more fully throughout Lent. Easy, yet thought provoking daily readings and reflective questions.
Preparing For Easter: Fifty Devotional Readings from C.S. Lewis shares curated readings and excerpts from the writings of C.S. Lewis on the Christian life and how you can have confident faith based on the Cross of Christ. Easy daily readings with accompanying scripture passages.
From the Grave: A 40 Day Lent Journey by A.W. Tozer provides a compilation of Tozer’s best insights on faith, repentance, suffering and redemption; taken from sermons, editorials and his books. Tozer hits the slovenly spiritual life hard, as only he can, but it feels so good.
Rich Wounds: The Countless Treasures of the Life, Death and Triumph of Jesus by David Mathis, moves you beyond familiarity of the Easter story to the subtle details of the wounds Christ suffered for our transgressions through His unfailing love and sacrifice. Daily readings and scripture.
Behold the Lamb My FREE Lenten Devotional, increasing intimacy with Christ through a study of 40 names ascribed to Him. Complete with journal prompts and meditative exercises.
This Lent, may you know Jesus as never before, while experiencing His presence in new ways, as His beauty transforms your heart and leads you home.
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This is just beautiful, Donna. “Walking the way with Jesus, we take a retrospective view of our lives realizing where we have strayed, and how to return on our journey home.” Yes. May our walks deepen and we experience His Presence as He changes us this season. Blessings!
Joanne, you are so kind. I pray your journey through Lent will be one of deep blessing, peace and renewed intimacy with Christ!
I have the book Rich Wounds. I think I’ll Read it again during this Lentin season. This is so beautifully spoken Donna.
Visiting today from Joanne’s
xo
Paula, the book Rich Wounds is such a great companion for Lent! I hope you enjoy it again this year. Thank you for your kind words and may your journey through Lent bring you comfort and peace!
I appreciate you articulating what Lent is, Donna. I honestly have never understood what it is or why people practice it. And I appreciate your suggested resources.
Thank you, Lisa. Many “Protestant or Independent” believers think Lent is a Catholic thing, but it’s a beautiful time to reassess our walk with Christ. With its emphasis on repentance, prayer, fasting and giving, it allows us to deeply reflect. Just as we spend time anticipating the birth of Christ through Advent, we meditate on Christ’s journey to the Cross, and all He accomplished for us there. It makes Resurrection Sunday all the more victorious!