Lent: Why I Give Something Up

We are in this beautiful season of time called Lent. Lent is the (approximate) six week season that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. Tradition has it that it is a time to reflect and prepare for the the risen Jesus.

Last week, I shared how Ash Wednesday impacted me so deeply. I still have a lot to learn about Lent, but over the past few years I've come to a greater understanding of why it can help deepen our faith.

Perhaps the most common thing people associate with Lent is giving something up. In fact, "what you gave up for Lent" is becoming the hot conversation topic in church right after "where are we going to lunch". I think it's great that Lent is starting to get more attention, but the Sunday casualness of it leads to the loss of the meaning and understanding behind why we are giving something up. I thought I would share why I choose to give something up in hopes of creating a greater understanding of this practice.

--------------

Traditionally speaking, the main components of Lent have been prayer, fasting, repentance, and acts of sacrifice. All these acts are intended to draw us out of ourselves and point us to Christ. 

Giving up something for Lent is seen as an act of sacrifice. However, this act of sacrifice cannot and should not be viewed as an act of self reliance and willpower. The danger in giving up something for Lent is it becomes all about us- what we are giving up and how well we are doing with our sacrifice. Instead, our framework of sacrifice should be complete and total surrender to the God who graciously grants our very breath. We surrender our own desires forcing us to rely upon God and not upon ourselves. 

Giving something up at Lent is a tangible reminder of my ultimate dependence on God. My sacrifice is a daily reminder that, without Him, I can do nothing, but through Him I can do everything. 

What I give up for Lent is something that I want to be difficult. Not so that I can prove to myself and the world that I'm so strong and self-controlled. I want it to be hard so that I have to rely on Jesus to carry me through. 

Giving up something for Lent is also seen as part of a fast that lasts the entire 40 days. There is Scripture upon Scripture that talks about fasting in the Bible, but Matthew 6:16-18 is the verse that first comes to mind for me: 

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (ESV)

First of all, fasting is not seen as an option in this verse. No translation says "If you fast...do this"- all translations say "when you fast...do this". This means that we are called to fast.

Second, when we fast, we are to do so quietly. I don't think there's anything wrong with sharing your fast with a few friends, especially for accountability purposes. But when Sunday morning comes and we are trying to out-fast each other by bragging about what things we're giving up for Lent, we're missing the point. Are you telling everyone that you're giving up coffee or Facebook to hear a "Woah, I'm impressed"? I know I've done it. Again, we're missing the point. A fast is done quietly because the Lord is really the only one that needs to know about it.

Third, fasting is intended to draw us closer to God. I want whatever I give up for Lent to be something that draws me closer to Jesus. A lack of something that draws you closer to Jesus may look completely different than what my lack of something looks like. I draw closer to Jesus by spending more time in His word and in prayer. Things that threaten this closeness are certain hobbies and habits that eat at my time- therefore what I often give up is an unnecessary hobby or habit that is taking up valuable time in my day.

I give up something for Lent so I can draw closer to Jesus. 

---------------

If you are interested in giving something up for Lent (it's never too late!), I would first begin by encouraging you to pray about it. Pray that the Lord would bring to mind the things that distract you from Him. Think about how you draw closer to Jesus. What threatens that closeness? What is something that, when removed, would remind you daily of your dependence on God? What is something that, when removed, would give you the time and resources you need to draw closer to Him?

I find that when I pray about this, the answer is often brought clearly to mind. It's often an answer I don't want to hear, and an answer that I try to ignore for a little while. If you pray about something to give up during this season and God brings to mind something that would be challenging to sacrifice, I encourage you to go through with it. Often, the more difficult and personal the sacrifice is, the more reliance upon God we learn.

I hope and pray that you all are drawing near to Jesus in this season and every season of life.

Have you/are you giving up something for Lent? What are your thoughts on fasting and giving things up?

{Linking up with Oak + Oats & Sweet Little Ones Tuesday Talk}