A few weeks ago as we were nearing the beginning of the Lenten season, I began to seriously think about what it was that I wanted to "give up" or "take on" during this time, for my own Lenten journey.
Feeling excited and ambitious about this endeavor I decided I was going to do both. I remembered hearing that once we make a decision about what we are going to do we should keep it to ourselves (Pastor Craig). But, since I’ve already broken my Lent I will share with you what I intended to give-up and take-on during this time.
The first was for my physical well being. I was simply going to eat only healthy food, not eat in between meals, not eat after dinner, and fast at least one day each week. The truth is I really never got that one off the ground at all. The second was for my Spiritual well being. I was planning on setting aside a certain amount of time each day dedicated to reading scripture and praying. Well, let’s just say, that I kind of got that one off the ground for two or three days.
My failure to live into what I named for myself to do during Lent has been nagging at me each day. I am bothered most about not setting aside time for daily prayer because I have some “junk in the attic” that I need to get rid of.
Lent offers us an opportunity to dig around in our “attic” to uncover things we should have gotten rid of long ago: hurt, habits or hang-ups…(Pastor Craig, eNews, 3/26/2014).
When I am purposeful about spending time in prayer and allowing God to come into my heart I'm keenly aware that I have some major work to do in the area of forgiveness. I realize that being aware of what I need to do and actually doing it are two very different things. But, I also know that I can be changed and set free once I'm willing to come to God daily in prayer and allow Him to change my heart.
The good news is that even though I broke my Lenten promise I will get up and try again tomorrow. I rest easier knowing that God loves me just as I am. I know that even broken promises to God, will never change his love for me and because of that, I want to try even harder to live my life in a way that honors God each and every day.
I hope your Lenten journey is going well and filled with love and grace.
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment