Experiencing Lent in a New Way: A Call to Reflection and Growth
Last night, my son and I attended an Ash Wednesday service at St. Timothy’s Anglican Church. As Father Thomas marked our foreheads with ashes in the shape of the cross, I was reflecting on the strangeness (to me) and solemnity of the moment. This was only the second Ash Wednesday service I had ever attended, and yet, there was something deeply moving about participating in this ancient tradition. I was acutely aware of the mark on my forehead and could see it clearly on those around me. Through the liturgy, the hymns, and the Communion that followed, I found myself contemplating the meaning of Lent in a deeply personal way. Because it was not a ritual I was accustomed to, I couldn’t simply fall into it by rote. Yet, despite its unfamiliarity and occasionally excessive formality, I found the Holy Spirit drawing me in and challenging me in a new way.
What is Lent and Why Does It Matter?
Lent is a 46-day season leading up to Easter Sunday, traditionally observed through fasting, prayer, and repentance. It was established at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, and its structure—40 days of fasting with six Sundays as feast days—mirrors Jesus’ time of fasting and preparation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). While Lent is often associated with giving up things like chocolate or soda, its true purpose is much deeper: to cultivate self-discipline, spiritual reflection, and a closer walk with God. Lent is not about self-denial for its own sake but about growing in holiness and becoming more like Jesus.
The Power of Fasting and Spiritual Disciplines
One of the central practices of Lent is fasting. While many people associate fasting with extreme dietary restrictions, it can take many forms. Traditionally, fasting during Lent meant eating only one meal per day and abstaining from meat altogether. However, fasting can also mean abstaining from social media, entertainment, or any habit that distracts from spiritual growth.
The power of fasting lies the struggle itself. When we deny ourselves something we desire, that desires intensifies. It’s human psychology. The more we think about it, the more we want it. And the more we do without it, the more our minds try to convince us that our desire is actually a need. I don’t just want a Dr. Pepper or that chocolate donut—I need it!
Through fasting, we become more aware of how much control our appetites can have over us. It is in those moments of longing that we are challenged to master our desires and submit them to a greater purpose. Fasting invites us to turn to God, seeking Him instead of satisfying our cravings. This discipline is not about mere deprivation but about transformation—learning to master our desires rather than being ruled by them. Spiritual maturity involves yielding control of our desires, will, and appetites to the Holy Spirit, and fasting helps trains us in this surrender central to a life of holiness.
Embracing the Church Calendar
For centuries, the Church has organized its yearly rhythm around key events like Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. This calendar helped to shape believers spiritually, aligning their lives with the Bible’s grand story of redemption and the Lordship of Jesus. The seasons leading up to these celebrations—Advent, Lent, and the Easter season—served as a time of preparation.
Theologically, Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost provide answers – but what are the questions? That’s where these seasons play a crucial role. When we neglect Advent, we miss the anticipation and need of Christ’s coming. When we overlook Lent, we lose the opportunity to reflect deeply on our need for His sacrifice. And when Pentecost is forgotten, we fail to recognize the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.
High church traditions like the Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Anglican/Episcopalian, and traditional Methodism continue to order the life of the Church around these seasons. However, many evangelical traditions today focus primarily on Christmas and Easter without fully engaging in the seasons that prepare us for these celebrations. Pentecost and Lent are often overlooked.
Growing up in a small conservative holiness denomination, I rarely heard about Lent, apart from Easter Sunday itself. Like many in that tradition, our church had largely abandoned the creedal and liturgical elements of its origins, believing they could hinder the Holy Spirit or were merely “man-made” traditions. Looking back, I see that was to our detriment.
Ritual, Liturgy, and the Call to Holiness
John Wesley and the early Methodists recognized the power of ritual and liturgy to help deepen the life of believers. Wesley, of course, was an Anglican “churchman” his entire life and much of the practices and forms of Anglicanism were carried over into Methodism. And, it’s of course true that liturgy and ritual do not themselves bring life or holiness to a people. They are merely channels. Like with any human activity, ritual can become routines out of habit and lose their them. But that’s not the fault of the ritual. One does not have to belong to a creedal, high liturgy, calendar-observing church to experience empty rituals and fall into the rut of routine. My childhood’s low church tradition of three hymns (often skipping the third verse), a “special” sung at the pulpit or standing awkwardly by the piano, passing the offering plate, the crying-like warble of public prayers, altar calls, raising our hands at predictable moments, Sunday School, revivals, campmeetings– those are also forms of liturgy and can likewise become mere routine if practiced without intentionality and authenticity.
The issue is not whether we engage in rituals but whether we embrace the call to holiness and sanctification and what we willingly do to grow in that direction. The great traditions of the Church can be valuable to us if we allow them to be. Though new to me in many ways, this year I am embracing Lent more intentionally. I want to see what God will do in and through me over these next 40 days. I invite you to do the same
Practical Ways to Engage with Lent
This Lent, consider embracing this season as an opportunity for growth. Here are a few ways to do that:
- Follow a Bible Reading Plan – The YouVersion Bible app offers several reading plans specifically for Lent. Choose one that will guide you through Scripture in preparation for Easter.
- Fast Regularly – Whether it’s skipping a meal once a week or giving up a daily indulgence, let fasting be a reminder to seek God intentionally and develop self-discipline.
- Engage in Prayer and Reflection – Set aside focused time each day to pray, journal, and meditate on God’s Word.
- Serve. Traditionally, almsgiving is a part of Lent in which Christians are even more intentional about sacrificially giving to help others as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross for us. Find a way to give or serve sacrificially in a focused way between now and Easter.
A Call to Deeper Trust
Lent is not just about tradition; it’s about transformation. It’s a season of preparation, leading us to the ultimate celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection. How will you embrace Lent this year? As Easter approaches, use this time to grow in trust, dependence on God, and a deeper understanding of the Gospel and the Cross. Let’s walk this journey together, seeking renewal and drawing closer to the One who gave everything for us.
