Today is Valentine’s Day. But more so, it is the start of the Lenten season. I wonder how often these two days merge together.
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, coffee, diet soda, social media, or a glass of wine at night. They are truly on the easier side to abstain from, often with a benefit to us other than sacrifice. We give something up knowing it will even be beneficial to our health.
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?”
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 go 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 was called for and necessary. God desires that we feel the weight of our sin and sincerely repent, not with a casualness but with a fervency and sincerity. John Calvin once commented that “moderate repentance will not do.”
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7, NASB)
It is by the path of repentance and forgiveness that we are completely and forever accepted by God.
Isaiah reminds us of four actions we are to take: “seek the Lord”; “call upon Him”; “forsake our ways”; and “return to the Lord.”
Lent is a 40 day season, a journey if you will, of reflection and introspection. We take the time to examine our lives, and letting the Lord search out our hearts, to seek where we have compromised. Not by our standards but of His. We take not of where the ideas and opinions of the world have taken up residency causing us to forsake His ways.
We leave no room for “moderate repentance” but sincerely and wholeheartedly humble ourselves before God.
Only as we forsake our own ways and return to Him will our lives be productive.
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.
In her post “Stress to Joy – A Busy Woman’s Guide“, Lynn Simpson asks this powerful question: “What if God wants your heart more than your work?” Let her words challenge you to enjoy your day and experiencing joy.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Image by gracethroughfaith from Pixabay
We have been talking about fasting in the house – drawing a line between fasting to lose weight and fasting to draw close, to find answers, fasting to remove the world’s dross, to remember what Jesus has done for us. The Calvin quote is convicting: “Moderate repentance will not do.” Neither will moderate fasting that is masquerading as drawing close to God. Your post is a Fat Tuesday feast needed for tomorrow! Thank you, Joanne, for always sharing your wisdom!
This >>> “Neither will moderate fasting that is masquerading as drawing close to God.” May we be genuine as we take time to reflect on what Jesus has done for us, allowing Him to search our hearts and do a deeper work in us. Maryleigh, I so appreciate when you share your thoughts!
Joanne, I’ve not heard the phrase “moderate repentance” before. It’s a convicting thought, for sure. You have me pondering the health of my soul this morning … Hugs, friend.
Thank you, Joanne for turning our hearts and minds to this season of Lent. I was raised in the Catholic church and understand the idea of “giving something up” for Lent, but as an adult, I find Lent to be more focused on repentance.
I approach Lent as a time of deep reflection and repentance, truly digging down to those areas I fail to address at other times, or maybe have piled up over the past weeks. I love Maryleigh’s sharing about “moderate” repentance. At times I think that is what I pursue in the day to day, and Lent is like cold water in the face of a lazy attitude towards sin.
A good reminder. Repentance and faith are the heart of our Christian walk. It is so easy to care more about the benefits we see (weight loss) and miss the importance of the unseen realm.
His is the greatest act of love of all time, Joanne.
Joanne, thanks for giving us food for thought about Lent and repentance. I like the Calvin’s quote, “moderate repentance will not do.” I’ve been rereading Donald Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life and I’m in the chapter on fasting. It seems timely with Lent beginning today. I think it’s something I need to give more attention to. Blessings!
Thank you for this, Joanne. Just yesterday I read a definition for Lent that really made me stop and think: The goal of Lent is “deeper union with Christ through the cultivation of virtue.” May God help us to ADD to our virtue as we SUBTRACT everything that gets in the way.
Michele, that is such a good definition. Less of us and more of Him!
I had not seen Calvin’s phrase about “moderate repentance” before, either, but it’s so apt. It’s sad that we can fast, pray, sacrifice, and even go through the motions of repentance, all while not having our hearts in it. May God give us grace to invite His searchlight into our souls and to fully yield all to Him.
As I was reading your post above Joanne, Romans 12 :1 came to mind; Our lives are to be a Holy & living sacrifice unto the Lord…for this is our reasonable service. It’s a very sobering word to reflect upon.
Blessings sweet friend, Jennifer
Happy Valentine’s Day Ms. Joanne, but as you point out, every day is a celebration of love for our Father, isn’t it? Loved your thoughts on lent and how we should sacrifice for Christ, if you will. While I don’t consider fasting a sacrifice myself, I understand how many do. I’ve come to see fasting, something many in our church is doing for month of February as we prepare for our upcoming Bible Conference, not as a sacrifice but a trade. I’m trading my worldly time (tv, snacks, one meal a day, etc.) for spiritual time. If I do nothing to fill that time I spend on worldly things, then I sacrifice it. If I spend that time in true prayer and meditation on godly things, then I’ve made a much better trade. 🙂 God’s blessings sweet friend.
Repent and seek. Simple words. Profound message.
Hi Joanne, I love your beautiful invitation to step into Lent by focusing on our Savior: repenting and seeking.