Draw near to God this Lent

Jude Hama Lifestyle Mar - 13 - 2022 , 10:36

In fact, we in the church as the people of God must better spread the fragrance of the love and beauty of our living God – who alone is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Lent is a time “to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper so that we can better receive the overflowing of graces God has to offer.”

Firstly, Lent is a 40-day spiritual exercise. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. It is patterned after Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting in the desert.

During the 40 days, we seek God’s forgiveness, accept His love and mercy; and we repent and turn from our sins.

The Lent season developed as part of the historical Christian calendar. And as stated, its purpose is to give us opportunity to open our hearts to God’s refining grace through prayer, fasting, confessing and repenting of our sins, and showing practical help to others.

Secondly, Lent gives us the opportunity to fast for a season of 40 days and meditate well on what our Lord Jesus really did for us on the cross.

“It was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT)
“God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT)

Thirdly, Lent is a time to “open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper. In the Lent season, we respond to God’s invitation given through the Prophet Joel: “That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (Joel 2:12-14)

Fourthly, Lent is a time of fasting, that is, to give up food, and giving up something we are passionate about or control much of our free time (e.g. Internet surfing, watching television/telenovelas) so we can focus more on thinking of Jesus.

Lent is a season we “examine areas of sin in our lives that prevent us from being conformed to the will of God; and becoming more and more like Christ in our commitment to God and in our conduct.

We pray in the words of the Psalmist: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life”. (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT)

Fifthly, prayer is an important focus in Lent. The Prayer and Fasting must go together in Lent. Fasting is a way to discipline yourself and to strengthen your “spiritual muscles” to speak, so that when temptations arise in life, you are already used to saying no to your desires. And you are more likely to live a regular life of victory over sin.

Sixthly, Lent is a time to prepare our minds and hearts to properly celebrate the key saving events – the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But Lent reflections do not stop at the suffering and sacrifices of Christ.

It also points us to the hope of the Resurrection and the day when every human suffering and pain will end and every tear will be dried. (Revelation 21:4)

Seventh, Lent is a time when we think more deeply about the Christian faith. And that the Christian faith is not just a feel-good, self-help thing, but one that answers the deepest questions of life and eternity.

Eighth, what is the state of our souls outside the light of Christ? The Lord Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT).
The Lent season is an opportunity for you to pray for those who do not know Christ and therefore do not have the light of Christ.

Ninth, Lent is a time we meditate on the suffering and sacrifice of Christ, but also become more aware of the suffering of others.
We think more purposely on responding to the needs of the poor and to deal with unjust structures and practices in our society.

Lent is a time we should think properly as individuals and in national parliament how to deal resolutely with eliminating “galamsey” that threatens destruction of our water bodies and farm lands.

And to organise appropriate social interventions for people living in our country’s border communities who because of the continued closure of the country’s land borders, have lost their regular means of livelihood and are exposed to abject poverty and suffering.

Tenth, in Lent, those who properly follow through its purpose and its practices, “enter the Easter season with an increased appreciation for who God is and what He has done for us in Christ. And to better experience the joy of the Resurrection of Christ as well as the promises of eternity.

We sum up thinking on Lent and involvement in Lent practices with the following Bible texts:
“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that

one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (Philippians 3:10-11 NLT)
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” (1 Peter 5:6)

The author is a consultant in authentic Christian Spirituality and Discipleship and former CEO of Scripture Union.