What is Lent? I can tell you this; it’s more than pocket fuzz.
In this kickoff episode of “The Naked Weekly,” I talk about the season of Lent, where it came from, why we do it, and some practical tips if you want to seek God during the Lenten season intentionally.
The Naked Weekly will drop on Tuesdays, where we don’t have a regular Naked Party Time Podcast.
— Lent is a shortened version of an Old English word that meant “Spring.” Officially, Lent is 40 days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter.
— In 325 AD, Lent was officially established as the 40 days, not counting Sundays, leading up to Easter day. In the earliest years, lent was a very somber, stern, bleak period that stressed the taking away of all pleasures in life, devoting oneself entirely to repentance and purity, not only as individuals but also as whole communities.
— In fact, Mardi Gras and all its pleasure-seeking was originally a pre-cursor to observing Lent, giving people one last spree of fun, excess, and indulgence before having to restrict themselves during Lent. This is why Mardi Gras will be this coming Tuesday, February 16th, one day before Lent begins.
— Ash Wednesday got its name from the traditional practice of blessing ashes that were made from palm branches used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration, then placing the ashes on the foreheads of participants with the words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel. Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return.”
If you’re going to observe Lent or any other time of fasting, here are my suggestions:
- Fast from something of importance to you
Fasting is a way to renew and strengthen our hunger for God. It helps to refocus us on Him and helps us keep certain things from taking God’s place in our hearts.
2. Fill your heart and mind with what’s most important
Don’t just fast from something without replacing it with something else, specifically the Word of God and prayer.
You might consider only listening to worship music during Lent, or being extra conservative in what you watch, listen to, or read as a way to keep your heart and mind filled with good things. Doing this will help renew your mind with the Truth of God, His Word, and His Ways.
3. Follow through in the will of God
If you intentionally seek God through fasting, prayer, and His Word, He’s going to reveal some things to you that you need to follow through on.