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February 18th is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the day the Church begins its annual pilgrimage to the cross. For the uninitiated, I like how upperroom.org describes what Lent is all about:

It's the forty days before Easter. Lent excludes Sundays because every Sunday is like a little Easter. Basically, it's about one-tenth of a year (like a tithe of time).... [it's] a season of the Christian Year where Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God.

That's good. In its simplest form, Lent is a season where the Church quiets itself as it prepares to celebrate the death and resurrection of the Lord.  It's a time where we willingly enter into the sufferings of Christ.

So, How Do You Celebrate Lent? 

As mentioned above, it begins with Ash Wednesday (I wrote a post in an earlier year that helps explain what that's all about. Read about it here.) 

Beyond today, though, the simplest way is to take these next forty days to seek the Lord in a way that is perhaps more deliberate than at other times of the year. Often, this involves deciding to remove something from your life (e.g., fasting) to help you remember Jesus more acutely. For example, you might choose to cut out lunch so that the hunger pangs in those moments might alert you to the Lord. Traditionally, people have usually avoided meat, embracing a vegetarian diet for 40 days.

But remember, Lent excludes Sundays. That's the day the Church feasts! It's the reminder that causes us to look forward to the hope of the resurrection and the great feast of the Lamb!

Lectio 365 for Lent

So, what is this stirring in your heart?  Are you sensing an increase in longing for Jesus? Is there a deeper rumbling for prayer, even if the words aren't coming out?  

The people behind 24-7 Prayer have an app that leads through daily prayers (https://lectio365.com/). This year, they have created a special guide to lead us through Lent. This is what I (Andy) will be using throughout Lent.

Want to join me (Andy)? Send me a note and let me know you're praying along. I'll pray for you as I pray.