Archive for March 2017

Many of us try to be more disciplined for Lent and give up something that we really like. That’s great! Fasting has always been an important tradition of Lent.

This year however, let us also consider other things that we can give up.

Give up complaining - Focus on Gratitude

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure.(Philippians 2:14-15)
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Give up bitterness - Turn to forgiveness

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31)
Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Give up worry - Trust in God

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… who by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:25)
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

Give up discouragement - Be full of hope

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you: he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Give up hatred - Return good for evil

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. (1 John 2:9)
But I tell you who hear me; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27)

Give up anger - Be more patient

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. (Matthew 5:22)
A hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel. (Proverbs 15:18)

Give up gossiping - Control your tongue

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. (Psalm 34:13)
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23)

Take some time to think about what you want to give up this year and may it help you to turn towards GOD in this holy season of LENT.

Image Source : www.sij.org

The word LENT is derived from the Anglo- Saxon words LENCTEN, meaning SPRING and LENCTENID, which literally means SPRING TIME. This can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning. A time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our services to Him. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends after 40 days(excluding Sundays), before Easter Sunday.

Significance of 40 Days in Bible

God sent 40 days and nights of rain in the great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4)
Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18)
After Moses killed the Egyptian, he fled to Midian, where he spent 40 years in the desert tending flocks (Acts 7:30).
Moses interceded on Israel’s behalf for 40 days and 40 nights (Deuteronomy 9:18, 25).
Elijah spent 40 days and nights walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
Hebrew people wandered 40 years in the desert while traveling to the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33)
Jonah's prophecy of judgment gave 40 days to the city of Nineveh in which to repent or be destroyed (Jonah 3:4).
The Israelite spies took 40 days to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13:25).
The Israelites wandered for 40 years (Deuteronomy 8:2-5).
When Israel disobeyed God, He gave them over to their enemies for forty years (Judges 13:1).
King Saul reigned over Israel for forty years (Acts 13:21) as did David (2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11) and Solomon (1 Kings 11:42).
The number forty represents the number of one generation as with the children of Israel who died in the Wilderness for their disobedience to the Lord.
Goliath taunted Saul’s army for 40 days before David arrived to slay him (1 Samuel 17:16).
Isaac and Jacob were both forty years old when they married (Genesis 25:20, 26:34).
Ezekiel bore the evil of the house of Judah for forty days (Ezk 4:6).
The Law specified a maximum number of lashes a man could receive for a crime, setting the limit at 40 (Deuteronomy 25:3).
Jesus was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:2).
There were 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:3).
Jesus laid for 40 hours in the tomb

In Lent, many people commit to fasting, as well as "giving up" certain luxuries.LENT is the time to re-think, to rewind, to remind, to remember, to reflect, and to retrospect by remembering the past and rectify the future.

Let’s turn away from SIN, be prayerful and come close to GOD.

Image Source : clipart kid
References :Wikipedia, www.gotquestions.org

What Should I Give Up For LENT ?