4 Things to Do for Lent in a Pandemic

Here are a few things to do for Lent that allow you to enter into Christ’s sufferings:

1. . Participate in what your church is offering online

   This may go without saying, but if your church has a service, and you’re not already tuning in, start there. 
   
   Coming together with other believers to worship, sing, pray, confess our sins, listen to scripture, hear the preached word of God, and take communion are ancient practices that we are called to participate in so that we can grow in our faith.

2. Add a service or two to what you’re already doing

   If your church is like mine, there are 2 different services offered every weekday. We have morning and evening prayer. 
   
   These are not services I’ve ever attended in person. As a mom, I’m usually running carpool in the morning or getting dinner on the table in the evening.
   
   I’ve begun to realize though, that in this time of disconnect, we need to be intentional about staying connected. And that means taking the opportunities that are already before us.
   
   I have begun “attending” our morning prayer service mostly. I can now turn it on and listen while driving carpool. 
   
   It’s a great way to enter into corporate prayer (together as the body of Christ). It also exposes me to way more scripture than I would get on just a Sunday morning. 
   (And let’s face it. As a mom of 3 little kids, it’s hard to find anytime to read my Bible on my own or “quietly.”)

3. Add a spiritual discipline

   I like to add something that strengthens my faith during Lent, rather than just taking something away. 
   
   Part of that is my Protestant upbringing and lack of awareness of a sense of denying myself. 
   
   But, I have found immense benefit in adding a discipline. Like prayer, or Bible reading, or reading through psalms and proverbs. 
   
   One Lent, I committed to praying for the people in my small group (you need a small group!) As I prayed for their needs weekly, I was able to connect better with them, in addition to interceding on their behalf. 
   
   It was a great way to strengthen our friendships because I knew what was going on in their lives and I knew how to follow up with them and what to talk about when I saw them.
   
   Meditation is another option. 

4. Give up something, or deny yourself.

   I’ll admit, this one is hard for me on a philosophical level. I didn’t grow up with the tradition of practicing Lent, and frankly some of my friends’ “practices” struck me as arbitrary and not really heartfelt (like “giving up cheese in excess” or “chocolate.”)
   
   I’ll admit that I didn’t get why you’d even do it, but now I’m beginning to better understand what Lent means.
   
   Lent is a season where we “enter into the wilderness” with Jesus for 40 days. 
   When Jesus was in the wilderness, he was without food. He fasted. He prayed. And he had to deny himself and his bodily needs. It was hard.
   
   As I’ve better understood this, I’ve begun to see the wisdom in also denying myself.
   If you choose to give something up, make it something that will benefit you or better your life. 
   
   I’ve often struggled with overeating candy. I’ve given up Slurpees (yikes!) when pregnant. And, I’ve given up “candy, but not desserts” (because candy is my real weakness.)
   
   There are plenty of other choices people make that can benefit their spirit: overeating, the news, social media, negative thoughts, etc. 
   
   Pray about it and see what the Holy Spirit reveals to you. 
   
   I can normally tell what to give up because when I ask what should I give up, it’s the first thing that pops into my mind. And it’s the first thing I like to dismiss as too hard or not really necessary. (See how I fool myself.)