Every year, for 40 days, we participate in Lent. A time of preparation and personal reflection. During this time, we focus on prayer, fasting (abstaining from something to reduce distractions and put our attention on God), and giving.
Lent allows us to focus on God and His sacrifice for us. But, how can we use this time to grow in our faith? At Pathfinders Pastoral Care Ministries, we help individuals overcome personal obstacles to strengthen their faith and become the person God created them to be.
Discover how Lent can help you learn and grow in your faith and bring you closer to God year after year.
Mirror His Actions
Strengthening your relationship with God starts with thinking and living as Jesus did. For example, he opened Himself up to death to bring eternal salvation to the rest of us.
While we don’t have to save the whole world, we can open ourselves to learn more about those who are hurting. It may be your neighbors, people in your community or those in distant countries. So, pray for those hurting, support them financially or with your time, and make sacrifices where you can to better the lives of others.
Reduce Your Distractions All Year
For many, Lent can be a challenge. Fasting or abstaining from something that we have made a consistent part of our lives, whether it is sweets, coffee, or gossiping, isn’t always easy – even for 40 days. However, we encourage you to challenge yourself to abstain past Easter and throughout the year.
The act of giving up something for Lent is to practice self-discipline and recognize the sacrifices Jesus made – mirroring His actions. Beyond strengthening your connection with God, the things we give up often make us better. For example, less chocolate can improve our physical well-being, while less screen time can improve our mental health. Over time, you will find that abstaining from that one thing isn’t so challenging anymore.
Be Patient with Yourself & Your Faith
Learning and growing from Lent is something you do by repeated action. You may need to change certain habits. For example, you can change your screen time to focus more on education and growth and less on gossip and entertainment. But, it’s important to be patient with yourself.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so, through him, the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. God has some great promises for you and I today and you can say yes and Amen to them.
“To err is human; to forgive divine.” Some days will be easier than others, and some days will be a challenge. Faith has an aspect of patience to it, a believing in the answered promises of God, even if you do not always see them. Giving your time and energy to some won’t end suffering for all. This kind of faith is hard work and requires a decision to believe even though we do not see the fruit yet.
As a Christian, learning and growing are vital for continually strengthening our faith and relationship with God. Pathfinders Pastoral Care Ministries is here to help you grow your faith. We encourage you to contact us to learn more.
Comments