The Gate

Lord, Our Father,
We seek Your guidance to keep our hearts and minds attentive to both the solemnity and the anticipated joy of the Lenten season. Uphold and inspire our worship and prayers during this time. We pray, Lord, that this period serves as a moment for reflection and revitalization of our faith.
Amen.

PREPARING FOR LENT

I mentioned at our last Gate Gathering that I would be sharing a few weekly devotional thoughts during lent.
Below are a few thoughts to get you started...
“A purpose of fasting is to increase our awareness of specific spiritual blockages that prevent God from acting freely in and through us. To that end, consider these questions when trying to determine what you will fast from during Lent:
1. "When I'm tired or stressed, what things do I turn to in order to help me relax, decompress, or escape?"
2. "Do I routinely make nonessential purchases that could be ceased for a time in order to redirect that money to those in need?"
3. "When I consider my daily routine, what are my favorite parts of my day? Do I love those things more than I love my time with the Lord?"
Honest answers to these questions will likely yield an idea of what you are being called to give up for Lent. Once you determine what you're giving up, ask two more questions:
1. "How will giving up this thing make more space in my life for prayer?" When you're craving the thing from which you're fasting, pray that God's power would be made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Lent is a perfect season to commit to a new prayer practice.
2. "How will giving up this thing make more space in my budget for almsgiving?" Almsgiving is giving beyond your normal tithe, and the practice comes from Isaiah 58. The tradition of almsgiving during Lent expands the focus of fasting from a personal spiritual experience to a compassionate communal sacrifice.”
From “SACRED SEASONS: A Family Guide to Center Your Year Around Jesus” by Danielle Hitchens.
Stay tuned!