Are you prepared to launch into Lent with gusto? We are less than a week away from Ash Wednesday. Start planning now if you have not already done so. How will you pray, fast, and give alms? There are many helpful hints on the internet and other places about how to make your Lent a holy and fruitful time. Please don't let these precious days slip by without growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ.
What does your prayer life look like right now? How would you like it to look? Spending time each day in prayer is essential for us to grow in union with God. Our earthly relationships require spending time with one another if they are to grow and mature; the same is true of our relationship with God. Plan now to enrich your prayer life during Lent. What do you need to do to more fully open yourself to God's grace? Do you have a set time for prayer each day? Do you have the discipline to maintain that commitment? What role does the Bible play in your prayer life? Do you allow God to speak to you as you read and meditate upon the Sacred Scriptures? Are you fond of any particular devotions? Will the Stations of the Cross be part of your prayer life during these 40 days?
From what will you fast? Certain items typically make the list--alcohol, nicotine, candy, chocolate, ice-cream, etc. In addition to our favorite sweets and treats, will we make a commitment to fast from gossip, profanity, and other hurtful behaviors? Will we refrain from watching questionable movies or television shows? Are we willing to seriously look at anything and everything to evaluate if it is bringing us closer to God or if it is driving us farther away?
How will we serve others during these days? Giving alms isn't simply about giving money; it also challenges us to give of ourselves. How will we build up the Kingdom of God by being a faithful witness to those around us?
Finally, the season of Lent gives us the opportunity to develop good habits that last a lifetime. We aren't simply embarking on a 40 day sprint. We are engaging in the first leg of the journey which lasts a lifetime and beyond. Plan now to rocket yourself into a splendid Lenten season!
What does your prayer life look like right now? How would you like it to look? Spending time each day in prayer is essential for us to grow in union with God. Our earthly relationships require spending time with one another if they are to grow and mature; the same is true of our relationship with God. Plan now to enrich your prayer life during Lent. What do you need to do to more fully open yourself to God's grace? Do you have a set time for prayer each day? Do you have the discipline to maintain that commitment? What role does the Bible play in your prayer life? Do you allow God to speak to you as you read and meditate upon the Sacred Scriptures? Are you fond of any particular devotions? Will the Stations of the Cross be part of your prayer life during these 40 days?
From what will you fast? Certain items typically make the list--alcohol, nicotine, candy, chocolate, ice-cream, etc. In addition to our favorite sweets and treats, will we make a commitment to fast from gossip, profanity, and other hurtful behaviors? Will we refrain from watching questionable movies or television shows? Are we willing to seriously look at anything and everything to evaluate if it is bringing us closer to God or if it is driving us farther away?
How will we serve others during these days? Giving alms isn't simply about giving money; it also challenges us to give of ourselves. How will we build up the Kingdom of God by being a faithful witness to those around us?
Finally, the season of Lent gives us the opportunity to develop good habits that last a lifetime. We aren't simply embarking on a 40 day sprint. We are engaging in the first leg of the journey which lasts a lifetime and beyond. Plan now to rocket yourself into a splendid Lenten season!
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