Lent - Resting, Giving up, Learning and Discipline

The beginning of Lent is upon us.  I didn't grow up with a very good understanding of Lent, and I would venture to say that I still don't have a very good understanding.  But over the course of the last 10 years or so I have tried to develop a deeper understanding, and more important, I have grown closer to my Savior through Lent.  For me, that is the purpose.  My God loves me.  He loves me so much he died for me.  In the time leading up to the anniversary of his sacrifice for my sin, I want to lean into His arms and rest as they wrap around me.

Here is a nice cup of coffee in what I used
to call my  $30,000 coffee cup!

Lent has taken on many forms for me, it has usually meant giving up something.  The default for me is coffee.  Not sure why, other than it is the one addiction that I freely admit having.  There have been years that this is a great time of learning that I can survive without the stuff and serves as a daily (shall we say hourly) reminder for what Easter means to me.  There have also been years that I learned nothing other than just how bad a caffeine headache can be.

And this would be the radio
in my 2001 Grand Cherokee.
It will be remaining OFF

So, as I have thought about just what Lent should mean for me this year, I have come upon an idea. I spend about 20 minutes each way driving to work every day.  Sometime I will listen to the news in the morning and bounce between Christian radio and talk shows driving home.  This year for Lent, I am going to give up listening to the radio, and I am going to practice the Spiritual Discipline of intercessory prayer during my drive.  That should give me about 15 minutes each way, or 30 minutes a day.  Just like I fully realize that my understanding of Lent is minimal at best, my understanding of intercessory prayer is probably a little weak.  However, neither of those limitations needs to keep me from spending my time in the car praying for people that God has placed in my life.

This whole transition to eMi is forcing Wanda and I to spend a lot of time in prayer, but most of that prayer is honestly focused on what is happening in our lives.  And I see nothing wrong with that, our lives need a lot of prayer.  But this time in the car I want to focus on others.  On what God is doing in their lives.  If you would like me to be praying for you, I would love to do that.  Share with me what is going on in your life, where God is pushing and pulling you, what has He revealed to you recently, or what you are struggling with.  Feel free to leave a comment below, or send me an e-mail, or call me.

And I would encourage you to think about Lent.  I doubt that you need something else in your life, but for me, it is good to give something up that has become a habit, and it is good to start something that is not a habit.