40 Days of Lent

Lent is the 40‑day season Christians use to prepare their hearts for Easter. It begins tomorrow, February 18, on Ash Wednesday and concludes on the Saturday before Easter, excluding Sundays. Historically, Lent has been a time of reflection, repentance, and intentional preparation—a season set aside to turn our hearts and affections toward Jesus and His saving work.

Lent is, at its core, a season of preparation. Many Christians choose to give something up or add something meaningful to their lives during these weeks. As you consider how to enter this Lenten season, here are a few simple practices to guide you.

1. Sunday Worship

Make corporate worship a priority. There are six Sundays before Easter—commit to being present and engaged each week.

2. Read

Spend time in Scripture throughout Lent. Consider focusing on the Gospels, especially the final days of Jesus’ life and ministry.

3. Fast

Ask the Lord if there is something you should set aside for these forty days. Perhaps you could fast from one meal each week and use that time for prayer. Or maybe God is prompting you to step away from a non‑food distraction.

4. Serve

Many churches offer opportunities to serve during the Easter season. How might you use your gifts to bless your church family as Easter approaches?

5. Invite

Make it a point to invite someone to join you for Easter worship. Lent is a natural time to extend that invitation.

The Easter season is a sweet and meaningful time of year. Prepare your heart for Easter morning by worshiping with your church family and fixing your attention on Christ. As you do, you may find that the habits of grace you cultivate during Lent become rhythms you want to carry with you long after Easter—and that’s part of the beauty of this season.

Introduction to 300

              After completing my Doctor of Ministry at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I am returning to my blog and invite you to join me. It takes about three hours to read Isaiah, about an hour and a half to read the Gospel of Matthew, and about three minutes to read the Epistle of Jude. If a person is ambitious, The Grapes of Wrath takes only twelve hours, give or take a few minutes. The average time spent on social media is two hours and forty-three minutes per day. It takes the average person about two minutes to read 300 words. Since most people spend 163 minutes on social media per day, could you spare two minutes every other Tuesday?  

              There is a well-known story in Exodus 17 of Joshua fighting the Amalekites while Aaron, Moses, and Hur watched from the top of a hill. With the staff of God in hand, Moses raised the staff high. When it remains lifted, Joshua is victorious. However, Moses’ hands grew tired, and the staff lowered, but Moses found help from Aaron and Hur, who raised his hands.  Something you may not know about this story is the connection between Aaron and Hur. We know Aaron is from the priestly tribe of Levi, and Exodus 31 states that Hur is from the tribe of Judah. Now, go back and consider this. Moses corresponds to the law, and on either side of the law are the priestly and the kingly tribes. Jesus, our faithful priest and king, came not to abolish the law but to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17).  

Thanks for your two minutes. Most weeks, I hope to offer a biblical nugget like the one above or a spiritual challenge. Keep coming back every other Tuesday. The final word count is 302, not a bad start.