Lent: A Time for Reflection, Repentance and Renewal

Today is Ash Wednesday and the first day of the Lenten season. On this day many ceremonies conduct the implication of ashes on the foreheads of members and those attending the ash services. Ashes were used in ancient times to express grief. The gesture was also used to express sorrow for sins and faults. Christians continued the practice of using ashes as an external sign of repentance.

Lent is a 40-day religious observance in the liturgical calendar of many Christian denominations that is a time of spiritual preparation through fasting, praying, repenting, atonement, self-denial and giving. According to the Gospels in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, Jesus spent 40 days before beginning his public ministry. The number 40 has many significant Biblical commemorations (the number of days Moses spent on Mt. Sinai with God, the number of days and nights of the great flood, the number of years the Hebrew people wandered in the desert and several other occasions.)

Many people will personally commemorate Lent by fasting, praying and giving in their spiritually unique way. Pray to God for guidance and focus on Reflection-Repentance-Renewal. 

Kicking Off Lent with Ash Wednesday

Image Credit: discoveringfaith.com

Today is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday ceremonies entail marking the forehead with ashes as a visible cross. Lent originated as mirroring Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the desert where he endured temptation by Satan. Lent occurs 46 days, in which 40 days are fasting days. The 6 Sundays in Lent are excluded and set as a feast day in which fasting is not appropriate.

As I was reading my morning Bible lesson and Discipline (Isaiah 58:1-12) this morning, which talks about fasting that pleases God, Lent is an invitation to the observance of a holy Lent. This is not fasting, just to be fasting, but by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word through self-examination and repentance, by prayer fasting and self-denial. Fasting occurs in many forms, but it is the choice to abstain from whatever may get in the way of our relationship with God, whether it is food, habit or attitude. Although fasting is typically associated with the abstention from food for a certain period of time, fasting is an offering to God for us to overcome being and doing what we please and do what God wants us to do. This requires doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God. We must avoid being hypocrites by going through the motion and ritual of fasting, and not changing our attitudes to walk in justice, as we fast and pray.

So whatever it is that you choose to give up for Lent, whether it is fasting or a habit that disconnects us from God, do it with a humble and unselfish heart. Do it so that it is pleasing to God and not for the sake of man.

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

- Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)

International Day of Prayer

On Sunday November 13, 2011 (the second Sunday), millions of people will participate in International Day of Prayer. Around the world, many Christians continue to be denied or persecuted for their freedom of religion. The purpose of International Day of Prayer is to pray fervently for Christians who are suffering, as well as for their oppressors, to raise awareness and urge advocacy on behalf of their faith.

I am a strong believer in the power of prayer. Although it may seem like they are not answered sometimes, they are. The answers may not be in the context of how we want them answered. So often society complains about horrific occurrences that we witness directly or indirectly. We frequently cry out about what needs to be done about these tragedies, but we fail to fall on our knees and seek God’s guidance for a peaceful resolve. If we join together in fervent prayer and abide by God’s principles (not simply a principle that is easy and convenient for us, but all of them) we could see some remarkable changes and amazing miracles happen around the world.

Let’s look beyond International Day of Prayer and commit to praying daily for all of our brothers and sisters who are being oppressed unrighteously.

Celebrating National Day of Prayer

We cannot ask God to bless America if we do not acknowledge and allow God in. Today, we celebrate National Day of Prayer. Although I will be among the thousands of people engaging in a day of prayer, we must not resolve to celebrate this day only on one day of the year. Can you imagine if the hundreds of thousands of people who are participating in some type of service, ceremony or event on today commit to seeking God’s guidance and obeying His statues every single day of the year, I truly believe that our country would be able to overcome many of our trials and tribulations that we are facing today.

Here is a little bit of history behind this designated National Day of Prayer:

Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

As a child of God, and believer in Jesus Christ, prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Let us pray for all of our leaders from the President of the United States to the pulpit. Let us pray for our children, families and friends. Let us pray for our local, state and global neighbors. Let us pray for the homeless and destitute. Let us pray for the abused, falsely accused and the wayward. Let us even pray for our enemies and believe that God will have mercy on them and that they will convert to doing the will of God Almighty. There are many who do not believe that there is a God of Creation and of this Universe. For these individuals, we will pray for you too.

The National Day of Prayer belongs to of us. It is a day that transcends differences, bringing together American citizens from all backgrounds. There will be those who will protest against this day of observance, but those of us who commit to daily prayer must make our voices resound even louder. Make every day a National Day of Prayer! God Bless!