What is Lent?
Growing up Catholic, I spent many 40 day periods observing Lent and sitting through a REALLY long church service around Easter time. I am no longer a practicing Catholic and now attend a different denomination, but I still love the idea of Lent.
While I believe you can’t earn your salvation, I do like the intentional break from overindulgences. There are so many things we eat, use, and do every day that we take for granted! These things can sometimes cloud our minds, so we lose focus on what is important.
So, what is Lent? This video gives a very short, understandable overview – check it out.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, this year March 6th, 2019 and ends on Holy Thursday, the start of the Triduum (3 day period including Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.) Fasting is supposed to continue through Holy Saturday. Including Sundays it is 46 days. If you skip Sundays (hello cheat days!) it is 40 days.
The word Lent comes from the word “lencten” which means “spring.” This makes perfect sense because Lent is kind of like spring cleaning for your heart and soul. Get rid of the things you know shouldn’t be there to make room for the things that should. Move over Marie Kondo!
By reducing the unnecessary noise and sacrificing something you love, you make room for God. Not to mention, Jesus went through some pretty major stuff on our behalf. So the least we can do is take a break from our overindulgence for a few short weeks and live intentional.
Why 40 days?
Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness to fast, pray, and endure the devils temptations. Matthew 4:1-3
Moses sat on Mount Sinai with God for 40 days without food and water, writing the 10 commandments. Exodus 34:28
-The Israelites suffered 40 years in the wilderness before they reached the Promise Land. Numbers 14:33-34
MAKING THE MOST OF LENT
Observing Lent should be a personal choice. I wouldn’t recommend going without food for 40 days. That might be a bit extreme. But, giving up your beloved Diet Coke for 40 days might be a good idea. It won’t kill you, even though it may feel like it. Our 6-year-old son decided he was going to give up eating his boogers for lent. EWWWW.
Perhaps you could commit to spending a few hours a week volunteering your time. Instead of just giving up TV for Lent, replace the time you would normally spend watching TV with volunteer work.
My kids think I should give up Iced Tea. Eh. That makes me sweaty, which means it probably is the thing I SHOULD give up. I love it so much. It is like my coffee and makes me whole. If you have something you feel similar about, that would be a good place to start!
I do plan on fasting from some things that are taking up too much of my time. But my main Lenten promise this year is different. I am going to read a book with a friend. We will start on Ash Wednesday and finish on Easter. The book is called 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast by Alicia Britt Chole.


What if you fasted regret? What if your friends fasted comparison? What is your community fasted spectatorship?”
The book has readings, reflection questions, and quotes.
I plan to read this EVERY day during Lent. That will be a challenge in itself. Right now I hold fast to my morning routine about 3-4 days a week. The book is 272 pages – that’s about 7 pages a day. I can do this!
Don’t pick something easy just to give up something. God knows the meaning behind the sacrifice. Do it for the right reasons, and He will be happy!
Good luck!
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