As Lent approaches, you face an opportunity to experience a meaningful season of reflection and renewal. Don’t miss this opportunity to go on a 40-day journey of learning new practices for intentionally drawing closer to God as you prepare your heart for Easter.
Whether you’re already prepared for Lent (beginning on March 5) or simply feeling drawn to explore this sacred time, there are beautiful ways to participate in this season of spiritual growth. The spirit of giving that marks this season reminds us of the ultimate gift – Jesus’ sacrifice of love. No matter your faith background, this time leading up to Easter can be a wonderful chance to open your heart to generosity and experience the deep joy that comes from following in the footsteps of such extraordinary love.
Here are a few resources to consider:
- Lent in Plain Sight by Jill Duffield – This book will draw your attention to 10 ordinary objects Jesus would have encountered on his way to Jerusalem: dust, bread, the cross, coins, shoes, oil, coats, towels, thorns, and stones. Each week, you will encounter a new object to consider through Scripture, prayer, and reflection.
- Lent and Easter activity ideas for families – This resource from Children’s Worship Bulletins™ includes 20 short, easy activities for families to do together or as individuals throughout the day, as well as a free downloadable 40-day calendar with simple suggestions for ways to make each day of the season meaningful for children.
- She Reads Truth has created this year’s reading plan based on Isaiah, which will look at the prophet’s words about the prophesied Messiah to the fulfilled promises found in the resurrected Christ. This plan will remind you of God’s plan for his people and how that plan was put into action at the cross. A Lenten plan for men following the same content has also been created. While available for purchase in either workbook form or digital download, the daily readings will also be available free of charge online at shereadstruth.com and will be discussed weekly on their podcast.
- Father Mike Schmitz: What should I do for Lent? – If giving things up for Lent seems a bit hollow, this article will give you a fresh approach. Beginning with the goal in mind – becoming more like Jesus – Father Mike’s practical advice on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving is focused on helping you become the person God is calling you to be.
- In his book, It is Finished: A 40-Day Pilgrimage Back to the Cross, Bible teacher Charles Martin, traces the power and necessity of the cross throughout the Bible, using storytelling to vividly portray what Jesus’ crucifixion accomplished.
- This Lent Companion ebook, written by Gary Hoag, president and CEO of Global Trust Partners, is designed to grow your understanding and practice the spiritual disciplines of giving, prayer, and fasting.
- He was There is a unique, 40-day reading plan created by World Relief, which features a weekly rhythm that features Scripture, a spiritual practice, a testimony of Jesus’ redemptive power in the world, a time for listening for God’s voice, faith in action suggestions for putting feet to faith during this season of intentionality, and a day of rest and prayer.
- Family dinnertime devotions for Lent by Minno – The creators of the #1 app for Christian video content for children has put together two simple family dinnertime devotions for each week of Lent. With readings and questions for two nights a week throughout the season, this flexible plan gives you the freedom you need for your busy days, but still gives you something to anchor your family during this season. The same readings and questions can be accessed online or printed using a free downloadable PDF.
- The purpose of biblical fasting by BibleProject – If you’re looking for a way to learn more context behind Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to fast, this short video provides brief summaries of several key passages in Scripture where believers fasted. This video provides a simple explanation for upper elementary and middle school students.
- The Hardest Part by author, podcaster, and stage-four cancer survivor Kate Bowler is described as “a companion as you pause, reflect, and find the courage to stay with the hard part, trusting that the good part is still coming.” She invites us to embrace Lent as it is – raw, honest, and tender – and pause, sit with what’s fragile and unfinished, to let God meet you in the hardest parts of your life. The free downloadable content is available in digital and print-friendly versions.
- Matt Canlis, an American pastor suffering from burnout, found his way to a new way of walking with God (literally) in small-town Scotland. Matt’s ministry began again when he chose to begin living at Godspeed. His new book, Backyard Pilgrim, picks up where his documentary ends, with a 40-day pilgrimage not only to recover where we live and discover what God is already doing in our neighborhood, but also to learn to live there as God’s child.
- Holy Week prayer activities by 24-7 Prayer – This downloadable PDF from 24-7 prayer, creators of the popular Lectio 365 app and facilitators of 25 years of nonstop prayer, includes five activities inspired by points in Jesus’ last days before the Crucifixion and Resurrectionm, designed to help you focus your heart and mind during this season. These can be done alone or in a group.
Of course, you can also use your cell phone to set alarms to remind you to pray, to meditate on Scripture, and to look for opportunities to give during the Lenten season.
We hope you’ll join us as we prepare our hearts for Jesus’ resurrection!
