Using Lent to Grow Towards God

It's Ash Wednesday!  

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent.  Just like the calendar year is marked by seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter, our faith is divided into seasons that help us focus our lives on Jesus.
Lent is the 40 day period leading up to Easter, during which we focus on Jesus' journey to the Cross and Resurrection.

People often give up something during Lent in order to take a step towards God. So what do we fast on in order to move closer to God?  The best answer is to fast on that which holds us back from following God more deeply and closely in our daily lives.  Lent is a good time to take a spiritual inventory of things we have let slip into bad habits.

Maybe you know your relationship to social media is causing you to feel negatively towards people.  Maybe you recognize you watch too much TV.  Maybe you are so engaged in the daily news that you are struggling to stay centered on Love.  Maybe you know your habit of grabbing food at the restaurant or shopping when you are bored is taking too much of your resources and impacting your ability to be generous.

Last Sunday we talked about the theology of our time, that our busyness often stands starkly between us and God.  It seemed to really hit a nerve of discomfort in our very stress-centered community. However, rather than feeling condemned by your own calendar, consider what you can set down this Lent that can open up an opportunity that you can give to God with your time and attention.  

Each of us has something in our lives that we engage that tugs us a little further away from loving God, serving God, and loving and serving people.  What is yours?  What can you give up that will open a door for you to take a step closer to God this Lent?

Join us Sunday as part of this commitment to draw closer to God.  Each week, I look forward to seeing you Sunday for worship as we give ourselves one focused hour to loving God and loving one another.  We believe committing our hearts to God during this one hour of worship each week can change every other hour we live.