Depending on a person’s denomination or background, sometimes he or she can have a negative view of Lent. The idea is that it is merely a time of retraction and legalistic rule-keeping. Not every Christian observes the forty days leading to Easter, and that is within their freedom to decide. But some years, individuals who regularly participate in the Lenten season can also perceive the spiritual disciplines of fasting, giving, praying, and Bible reading as mere items to add to their to-do list. Among the washing of dishes, paying the bills, or cleaning the car, Lent can feel like another chore.
For those overburdened by situations in life, know that it is okay to reevaluate the practices during this time. Sometimes the wisest thing to do is to fast from Lent to dig deeper into the roots or your faith. There are options, though, for participating in this season without trudging through it, to be refreshed by the Lord instead of weighed down with a sense of obligation. We just need to be willing to step back and approach Lent with a fresh perspective.
1. Consider How Discipline Might Help You Love God More Wholeheartedly
We can often think of spiritual disciplines as things we unwillingly do, although we know they are good for our walk with Christ – like how we approach dental hygiene or eating certain vegetables. Push through the difficult practice, and surely, we will come out on the other side with a degree of growth. Yet, if we reframe our thoughts about spiritual disciplines, including those we engage with during Lent, we will find a better motivation and approach.
Fasting, almsgiving, praying – all of these become empty actions if they are not bringing us closer to the Lord. Yes, there are times we will need to grit our teeth and continue participating in the rhythms of faith even when we do not want to do so. But our deepest calling is to love God with our entire being (Mark 12:30). That is what we were made for.
Considering, then, how a specific discipline can assist us in our endeavor to grow in love for the Lord can shift our perspectives. We do not merely give up something for the sake of doing so. The extra time we have because of the sacrifices we make allows us to open more space for closer communion with our Savior.
So, we should pause and ask ourselves: How might this practice or tradition assist me in my purpose in loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength? Will I be able to spend more time with the Lord and stand in awe of Him? Our answers to these questions will allow us to evaluate our motive for engaging in Lent and see how, far from being a chore, this season invites us into a closer walk with Christ.
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2. Consider How Discipline Might Help You Better Love Your Neighbor
The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian church that individuals could do great deeds, like giving to the poor (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). However, if these individuals lacked love as the basis for their deeds, then their actions would be worthless. As he said, “I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3, NIV). Spiritual disciplines and practices divorced from love miss the essence and foundation of our faith, which is built on the unconditional love of Jesus who gave Himself for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
Loving God is intricately connected with loving other people (Mark 12:31). We cannot claim to love the Lord if at the same time we harbor hatred in our hearts toward our neighbor (1 John 4:20). Every spiritual discipline we engage with, then, is meant to help us better love and care for others. Our hearts are transformed by communion with the Lord so that we are more open to sharing our lives and resources with our neighbors.
Instead of viewing prayer, for example, as another checklist item to complete during Lent, let us think of how we can serve others by interceding for them. Scripture encourages us to pray for others (see Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1; James 5:16). And those prayers can lead us to act by meeting the needs of people near and far – which then ties in with other spiritual disciplines such as giving and evangelism.
If the greatest commandments are centered on a love for God, and a love for people, then that also needs to be the focus of our spiritual practices.
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3. Establish a Goal for a Particular Practice
Some years, we might feel as if we are merely going through the motions of our Lenten practices. We read the assigned Bible reading, say a prayer, and cut something out of our lives for a period. There seems to be no direction or purpose because we just do what we have always done. And that is what we are supposed to do, right?
Well, if we are engaging with spiritual disciplines to love the Lord and people more, then there is a basis. We are pursuing a closer relationship with God that will overflow and impact those around us. Although each of us should be open to the Lord’s work in our hearts, which may surprise us, setting up goals for the disciplines can also help us feel that we have direction and purpose. And in turn, we will understand that Lent is not about going through the motions.
When establishing goals that direct us in our spiritual disciplines, let us remember to be specific. “Growing in Christ” is too vague and would be difficult to measure. As would “Attending church more.” Instead, we might create a goal to read the Gospel of Matthew or the Book of Psalms with the focus of applying what we learn. Or to attend Holy Week services to engage more fully with the grand story of redemption.
Perhaps, if we wanted to focus on giving, we could set aside money we would otherwise spend on coffee or a streaming service to give to a specific cause, either at church or through a ministry. This cause could also be the focus of our prayer time, or the area of our study of Scripture.
Whatever goals we make, may we seek to do them for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). For He delights in a willing heart that is open to His work.
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4. Take a Different and Creative Approach
A change of scenery and activity can add zest to life whenever the mundane leaves us feeling drained. Our spirits brighten at fresh sights and the increased room to breathe. This is true of everyday life as well as spiritual life. During the times when Lent seems too familiar and soul-sucking, we might need to be more creative with our engagement.
Our Lord is the Giver of refreshment, since He leads His sheep beside quiet waters, and invites us to be recharged in Him (Psalm 23:1-3). He is the One we should turn to first whenever spiritual disciplines feel dry or unfruitful. Moving closer to Him is always a wise choice.
But there are things we can do to promote a more vibrant Lenten season in which we have more space to stand in awe of Jesus and to grow as His disciples. If we always read the same devotional each year or have gone through numerous cycles of the same books, then we could consider obtaining a new devotional. Maybe we need more time to rest in the loving presence of God and so carve out a weekend or week for a spiritual retreat – even if that means cutting out a few good things we enjoy. Or we might need a change of scenery in terms of visiting another church for Lenten-related activities, especially if our denomination does not observe Lent.
Other creative ideas for this season include: creating artwork, writing poems to God, crafting a personal lament, participating in the stations of the cross, serving in the community, reading a biography of a Christian in history, using a book of written prayers, leveraging gardening as an opportunity for prayer, or utilizing a different Bible translation.
Regardless of what we add or change about our Lenten practices this year, we can trust that ultimate refreshment comes when we lean into the love of the Lord.
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5. Make a Lenten Group with Friends or Family
In the world today, it can be difficult to feel connected to others. We can interact with a post on social media, but we do so from behind a screen. We regularly message a friend or colleague, yet we find that we communicate more through text than in-person discussions. And we can see the activities of those we know through pictures and videos, but we rarely see them in everyday life. Technology often leaves us feeling isolated.
During Lent, we can intentionally fast from this disconnectedness by engaging with community and enlisting others to journey with us to Easter. Not only will we find ourselves more involved with friends and family, but we will have the opportunity to share our experiences with others. Together we can “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24, NIV).
Depending on where we are in life, this group may look different. A mother can decide to use a Lenten book with her children, helping them to understand the solemnness and joy of this period. Friends might form a Bible study, or a service club to volunteer together for a specific cause. Perhaps an older believer will agree to mentor a younger believer. Even just talking to someone else about spiritual disciplines during Lent could lead to stronger connections in a community.
We will find greater purpose and joy in spiritual disciplines when we walk with others through Lent.
6. Add Daily Reminders of God’s Grace
A sense of obligation during Lent, and feeling as if spiritual disciplines are a chore, often arises from a distorted view of the Lord. We become tempted to think that God is only satisfied with us if we do certain activities – He is a taskmaster, and we must perform correctly to earn His pleasure and love. When we mess up or fail in a task, we assume (in our wrong view) that He no longer cares.
Of course, this is not what the Lord does. He is not waiting with arms crossed to notice when we fail. He is diligently watching to ensure we have checked off all the duties from our religious checklist. Lent and Easter show us that the Father lovingly sent His Son to save us (1 John 4:9-10). Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected to save us and bring us into the family of God (John 1:12-13). There is no point in trying to earn God’s love since He has already freely given it to us (Ephesians 2:4-5). Because of what Christ did, we are accepted.
Whenever we are tempted to feel that the Lenten season is another performance-driven test from the Lord, we need to be reminded of God’s grace. Being prepared will help us to add reminders to our daily lives, even small ones we might overlook. We may, for example, hang a written Bible verse about God’s grace somewhere we can see it throughout the day, regularly listen to songs that makes us think of His love, read books that highlight the grand story of redemption, or make it a priority to spend time outdoors each day to notice the evidences of the Lord’s beauty and compassion in nature. These simple acts will turn our focus back to God’s great grace in saving us.
And as we regularly think about the love of our Savior, we will be amazed at “how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is” (Ephesians 3:18, NLT).
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Originally published Friday, 14 March 2025.