A Cup of Grace – with a shot of espresso

February 18 is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season. Spending all my life in either a Bible church or a Baptist church meant that this was something I was only vaguely aware of. But as I delve into the idea of “making space” for God through spiritual disciplines it seems the perfect season.  

In the last several years I have felt like perhaps I was missing out on something by not participating in some of the rituals of the high church.  I think for hundreds of years the Baptist division, at any rate, pushed back against anything that smacked of ritual, or what they thought of as empty religious practices. Unfortunately, there seems to be the “throwing the baby out with the bath water” in this reaction. 

All through the Old Testament, God instituted times of commemoration. Sometimes this was in the form of fasts and holy and solemn worship and other times this was in the form of feasting and gift giving. Somehow, though we will defend the immutability of God vehemently, we have left much of these ideas behind because “that was the Old Testament.” 

Since I am unfamiliar with Lent and it’s origins, I did a little research.  After all, Lent doesn’t appear in scripture at all. So I was curious how it came to be a part of some denominations’ practices. 

I learned that the early Church practiced fasting before Easter, though it wasn’t strictly forty days. Later, the Council of Nicaea standardized it to forty days to symbolize and imitate Jesus’ time in the wilderness before His temptation. Forty is often an important number in scripture. Rain fell for forty days while Noah and his family were in the ark. Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. The Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness. Forty often seems to be a time of difficulty or training before you come out on the other side and step into the next thing God has for you.  

It is interesting that Jesus fasted for forty days in preparation to meet temptation.  Human reason says we should face temptation when we are at our strongest (ie well fed and plenty of sleep). However, I think the fasting was just an indication of more going on. Jesus wasn’t simply hanging out thinking about food and practicing abstinence.  He wasn’t working his “self control” muscles. Fasting was generally associated with prayer for the Jewish people. So, though this is my opinion, I believe that Jesus was in prayer in His time of solitude and silence. He was spending time talking to and listening to His Heavenly Father. Though physically weakened, He had been spiritually nourished and strengthened. His ministry would begin following this time.

In the Middle Ages confession and acts of mercy became an integral part of the season. A focus on confession absolutely makes sense. We know that this season moves us toward Christ’s death on the cross for our sins. Remembering that we hold responsibility for his death ought to humble us and build in us a desire to leave our sin. Focusing, too, on acts of mercy is a beautiful way to imitate Jesus in this. His death provided mercy for us. How can we do less for others? (Reminder: mercy is not getting what we deserve. We deserve God’s righteous judgment.)

A variety of denominations now make Lent a part of their days leading to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. As a result, people do all sorts of things to observe Lent, but here’s what we must keep in mind. Anything can become empty ritual when we take our eyes off God, when we forget we are worshipping Him. Attending church, singing praise music, giving tithes, praying, serving the poor, fasting – all of these are empty if our hearts aren’t in the right place.  Nor are these practices ways to make God love us more or earn His forgiveness. Both are impossible. Rather, we do these things to open our hearts and lives to God. We are the ones who need to learn to love Him more. We do this in response to His great love for us and His forgiveness of our sins. 

If Lent has never been a part of your practice, let me encourage you to spend some time in prayer seeking God in this. How would He have you make space for Him? If prayer isn’t a part of your daily habit, maybe this is a good season to make it one. Daily confession is always good for us. Maybe you’ve never fasted before. There are lots of different approaches. Choose one and incorporate it. If you’ve discovered you’ve developed a habit of complaining or worry, maybe you should practice the spiritual discipline of gratitude for forty days. Or look for opportunities to practice mercy; care for those who have been beat up by life, even if it is “their own fault.” Just don’t forget your “why.”

As we enter the Lenten season, though it isn’t mandated in scripture, giving intentional focus to our spiritual lives can only make us better. Forty days of actively seeking God by practicing spiritual disciplines may reap a harvest in our lives we would never anticipate. Who knows what God will use it to prepare us for.