Lent and LYF
Wednesday 2/18 is “Ash Wednesday,” which marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a season of 40 days, not counting Sundays, leading up to Easter where Christians all over the world to commit fasting, prayer, and generosity. These 40 days are meant to mirror the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. The word “Lent” comes from an old English word that literally means “Spring.” Lent is, therefore, primarily about creating space for God to renew your life. For more on this, check out Deron’s sermon from Sunday 2/8.
Below are a few things to note about Lent and how LYF will be participating:
1) This past Wednesday 2/11 in youth group we encouraged students to consider surrendering something that is standing between them and God this Lent season. I hope students will participate in Lent individually by fasting from something during these 40 days and by filling that space with prayer and scripture. For help with those things click here to access February’s bible reading plan. You can also click here for a guide on how to use the Lord’s Prayer as a springboard into a deeper prayer life. If a student is going to be giving up something that costs money, I would encourage them to then give the money they would have spent to someone in need.
2) I also announced that LYF will be participating in Lent collectively by giving up using screens during this season of Lent. That means students and adults will be asked to keep their phones put away during all LYF programs, events, and gatherings. We will also not be using power point slides for any of our gatherings, and will instead sit in circles. My hope is that by removing these distractions during this period of Lent we can create more space for God to renew our relationships/love with one another. If anyone needs to reach their student during a LYF gathering you can call me (Trey) or Ava.
3) I also want to encourage you all to participate in Lent together in your homes as families. Perhaps your household can collectively surrender something to God during this 40 day season. Some ideas for what to surrender include: eating out, non-essential purchases, your television, personal/private screen time, soda or sugary drinks, desserts, snacks between meals, complaining, etc….whatever it is that is standing between your family and a deeper devotion to God. Similar to the individual participation in lent, I’d encourage you all to read the bible and pray together as families. You can use the guides posted above to do that. The bible reading plan includes questions for family reflection.
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you all this Lent season.!