Lent: Giving up what separates you from God

Many churches recently finished with their Ash Wednesday services and started the season of Lent.

On Ash Wednesday, ministers in many different denominations placed ash crosses on the foreheads of believers. This symbol reminds Christians of their mortality but also shows the person’s desire to repent of their sins.

Christians are encouraged to wear the ashes until they disappear as a public declaration of their faith. Ash Wednesday is the first day of the 40 days of Lent when Christians are encouraged to give something up as a sacrifice.

The traditional purpose of Lent is to prepare the believer for baptism through prayer, penance, repentance, giving, atonement and self-denial.

Today, many Christians commit to giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence, but we usually don’t go overboard with our self-denial.

One year I gave up soda pop for Lent and when it was over, I didn’t really feel that I had grown any closer to God. It wasn’t a spiritual commitment on my part.

As the years have passed, I have come to look at Lent in a different light and changed my view of what I should give up. I passionately believe that instead of just stepping away from “things” you should give up anything that separates you from God.

This year I had a hard time figuring out what my Lenten penance was going to be. I was still pondering it on Ash Wednesday morning. One of my students suggested giving up chocolate because they all know I have a weakness for that.

But in my heart, I knew that chocolate wasn’t keeping me away from God. In fact, if God was standing beside me, I would share my chocolate with Him.

Then, I had my epiphany. I was denying God my full attention. Since I teach full-time, go to seminary school full-time and am the minister of a church, I don’t have a minute to call my own.

I am sometimes so tired at night that I cut my nightly talk with God short and that is what is separating me and my Creator.

In my hurry to do God’s work, I sometimes forget God himself. Wow, that is huge and something that I needed to change immediately. For the next 40 days, I gave up putting other things ahead of God and set aside time to be with God no matter how tired I am.

I am not going to put the laundry, school, family or other people ahead of my glorious Lord.

That is what Lent is all about. It is repenting of the things that keep your relationship with the God from growing and becoming something wonderful.

This giving up thing also works both ways between you and God. Christians aren’t the only ones who make sacrifices.

Remember, 2000 years ago, God gave up His son to die on a cross for us and it changed the world forever. Surely you can give up something for Him.