It is about mid-way through the Lent season, my thoughts return to conversations and admissions.
To “give something up for Lent”, as explained by dictionary.com, “is to abandon a pleasurable habit as an act of devotion and self-discipline.” It is a 40 day span in which we abstain as we remember Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness. We think about our own shortcomings, also known as sin, and repent.
The things we give up are little, most times being a dessert or coffee or diet soda or social media. They are truly on the easier side to abstain from, often with a benefit to us other than sacrifice. One person mentioned they were refraining from a particular food in the hopes of getting healthier.
Yet it is not a health for our body we should seek but the health of our souls. The question truly becomes, “Are we truly making a sacrifice?”
“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. He is eager to relent and not punish.'”
(Joel 2: 12-13, NLT)
We give up the easy stuff of life and hold back on the harder, deeper, and significant sacrifice of the heart. It is as our hearts are lay open and bare that He may indeed then bring blessing.
God desires for us to beyond the external demonstration and get on with the business of what lies hidden and unknown to everyone. He is after a change in our priorities and our attitudes towards others.
Most of the messes in my life were by my own doing. Repentance is called for and necessary. God desires that I feel the weight of my sin and sincerely repent, not with a casualness but with a fervency and sincerity. John Calvin once commented that “moderate repentance will not do.”
It is by the path of repentance and forgiveness that we are completely and forever accepted by God.
“God’s desire for closer relationship with us requires us to be purified. Though He accepts us as we are, He has even better for us. He loves us too much to leave us in our mess. He collects our broken shards and creates beauty from mere fragments, but the process does not come without pain.” (from Holey, Wholly, Holy Companion Workbook by Kris Camealy, page 22)
Only as we die to self can much then be produced in our lives.
It is in losing our life and our ambitions,
to the very One who has given His life for us to have life,
that we gain even more.
Today I am joining … Testimony Tuesday and Unite and #RaRaLinkup and Tea and Word .
“God desires for us to see beyond the external demonstration and get on with the business of what lies hidden and unknown to everyone. He is after a change in our priorities and our attitudes towards others.”
Yes and amen, Joanne! I have to let this sink in today, and let this play out in my life even beyond the season of Lent! Thankful to have visited today from #TestimonyTuesday!!!
A change in our heart attitudes comes so much harder than some things I would give up. May this be a season of sacrifice and change.
Thanks for reminding me again of Lent, Joanne. I love that quote about moderate repentance. It’s true that often we give up things that are relatively easy, and leave deep repentance and heart work to the side. A friend helped me see Lent from a new angle this year: thinking of taking on some new spiritual disciplines to draw nearer to God.
Yes, Betsy. It’s been a season of taking on some new spiritual disciplines for me as well. May God bless you as they are used in your life to draw you nearer to Him.
Messes of our own making are the hardest to repent of, and I appreciate what you’ve done here in this mid-Lent check up. Blessings, Joanne!
Love this, so hard but so true…Only as we die to self can much then be produced in our lives.
And the irony of it all is that when we die, we live 🙂
Thank you for these words. The truth hits squarely between the eyes today. Love these words —–>
It is in losing our life and our ambitions,
to the very One who has given His life for us to have life,
that we gain even more.
Thank you for this powerful truth!
There is great gain as we sacrifice. Yet it goes against every natural way of thinking. May we be willing to lose the lesser so that we gain the greater, Mary. xo
“Only as we die to self can much then be produced in our lives.” So true!
The fact of the matter is, the dying to self has to be on an almost daily basis, because the self wants to rise up gain and again ….
It is absolutely on a daily basis. Our flesh will rise up on regularly …
great post. i’m new to lent practices yet stepping in lightly this year. i appreciate your comment: that it’s the harder stuff to give up, things of the heart. next to you at tea this morning in CA
The matters of the heart are always deep and hard. But the sacrifice always reaps reward.
“Only as we die to self can much be accomplished in our lives….” Oh yes, how very true this is. We must give up our wants and our desires and in place, God gives us HIS – which are WAY better than we could ever even imagine or hope for. I did not grow up learning about lent or even practicing it. It has really been only the last few years, I have learned about it. We as a family and a church family usually for a 21day fast in January and choose to give up something, much like the lent season, but I can see the importance of doing it in addition to our January time becasue it helps keep us focused on the season of Easter. We are neighbors at #TeaAndWord today
Debbie, you raise an interesting point to ponder. Perhaps we just need to fast more often throughout the year to stay focused on Him.
Joanne,
I was convicted by thinking about the meager offerings I give back to Jesus in return for the ultimate sacrifice He made for me. God doesn’t want our paltry offerings that we check off a list…He wants our HEARTS and will settle for nothing less. What greater sacrifice than giving Him all of me – all my heart. Great post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
If we only could see how big of a measure our hearts truly are to Him when they are fully surrendered. May our hearts stay soft and pliable in His hands, friend! xo
I want eternal fruit!! Yes! Love this Joanne. Thanks so much for sharing the truth with us. xoxoxo
Meghan, as I read your comment it hit me … the fruit makes the sacrifice and giving up all worth it!