If you observe Lent, what does it mean to you?

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   jansharesposted 11 years ago

   If you observe Lent, what does it mean to you?
   
   The observance of Lent is a 40 day period during which Christians of different denominations engage in spiritual focus and introspection, leading up to Easter. This may include fasting, frequent prayer, bible study, meditation, penitence, self-denial, abstinence, self-examination, cleansing, and preparation for renewal. If you observe Lent, what does it mean to you?

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   Tom Voglerposted 11 years ago

   Like many religious symbols, Lent can have multiple meanings.  I truly look forward to Lent every year, and this year I am glad it arrives fairly early. 
   
   Many people choose to use it as a period of self punishment or forced sorrow for our human frailties and weaknesses.  Others see the time as a preparation for the celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. 
   
   I see it as a way to strengthen my life of faith, as that is what Jesus did at the beginning of His ministry, not at the end of it.  We are told that He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and that was done after He was made public by His baptism in the Jordan, but before He revealed Himself in the synagogue and really started ministering to the people. 
   
   Apparently He needed to get away from people and distractions and think about things for awhile, so that is how He chose to do that.  So, I see no reason why I shouldn't do something like cut back on television viewing or time on Facebook and start and end each day in prayer.  It is temporary self denial, but well worth the investment. 
   
   If only more "self-help" gurus would realize this, Lent could be even ore effective for more people.

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      jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks so much for your answer, Tom. I was raised similarly and always look forward to more spiritual discipline during this time.

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   MarieAlana1posted 11 years ago

   
   
   I was raised to observe the lent and to always give something up in order to get closer to the heavenly father. I, often times, fasted and prayed a lot more during lent. This helps one to take time and meditate on what all Jesus did for us with his suffering, death, and resurrection. I think it is a time to really think. Everybody should, at least once a year, get away from it all and think things out. In this way they can come to a true meaning of how to walk that straight path and know what God is calling them to do. While doing this, though, there has to br prayer that is accompanying the meditation, thinking, and self-denial.

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      jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, MariaAlana1, for your thoughtful answer and sharing your experience.

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