What are you giving up for Lent? That seems to be the popular question at the start of the Lenten season. The decision to give up something we enjoy for a period of 40 days is a just a small sacrifice compared to what Jesus endured during his temptation in the desert. Each year, I really think about my Lenten sacrifice. Because I want to be sure that whatever I do for Lent that I make it personal.
Some Things to Consider
I wasn’t sure what to give up for Lent this year, so I asked myself the following questions…
- Where do my indulgences lie?
- What distracts me from praying or thinking of God?
- What occupies my mind most of the day?
- How is my thought life?
- How do I spend my free time?
Making It Personal
Whatever you decide to give up for Lent, make it personal. Because Lent is a wonderful opportunity to use this 40-day period of prayer and self reflection to examine our relationships, our thought life, and our actions. I’ve put this into practice myself and asked God to show me what negative habits I needed to let go of so I can make room for positive ones.
Giving Up My Guilty Pleasure
This year, I’m giving up one of my guilty pleasures – chocolate. It’s basic, I know. And it’s often what comes to mind when we think of a Lenten sacrifice. I can remember my elementary school days when it seemed like my entire class was giving up this very same thing.
But as basic as it may seem, giving up chocolate is very personal for me. Because, in recent months, I’ve been consuming way too much of this sugary treat. So much so, that I’ve found myself reaching for chocolate to satisfy my sweet tooth or to boost my mood if I had a bad day. In addition, I noticed that chocolate was starting to affect my body too. It made my heart race and then left me feeling tired and irritable. As a result, I felt God calling me to be mindful of how much chocolate I was putting into my body. For these reasons, I felt convicted to consume less sugar and to eat healthier. Therefore, giving up chocolate was just one way to do so.
Giving Up Negativity
Contrary to what we may think, giving up something for Lent doesn’t need to be just about food. Aside from sacrificing my love affair with chocolate, this Lent, I’m giving up another vice and that is negativity.
I’m aware that negative talk can invade my mind and my speech from time to time. I notice that it appears in the form of fear, worry, complaining, and comparing myself with others. So, what better time to let these negative patterns and behaviors go than during Lent? For the next 40 days, I’m ‘fasting’ from negativity and doing my best to fill up on gratitude, praise, and encouragement instead.
Filling Up on Spirituality
Lent is a great time to do some spiritual reading. This Lent, I’m taking some time to read a spiritual book called The Mindful Catholic and meeting weekly with a friend to discuss it.
If you don’t have time to devote to an entire book, consider signing up for Lenten daily reflections which can be delivered right to your inbox and take only a few minutes to read. This year, I’ve subscribed to the The Best Lent Ever by Dynamic Catholic and Relevant Radio’s Lenten Lessons on the Mass.
Living Our Everyday Life
Here are a few ideas from Pope Francis on how we can turn this Lenten season into one of self-reflection. And it all starts by simply thinking about how we live our everyday life. We can use this as an opportunity to ‘fast’ from what pulls us away from God and ‘fill up’ on what draws us closer to Him.
- Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
- Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
- Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
- Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
- Fast from worries and trust God.
- Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
- Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
- Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
- Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
- Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
- Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Which ones above speak to you? Select one or two and start your Lenten journey today.
Remember, whatever you do for Lent, make it personal!
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” – Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)
What are your giving up, or fasting from, this Lenten season? Please share in the comments section below.
Mine is fast from worries and trust God.
I can relate to those!
During Lent, I have always found it difficult to fast on something. My will power is not very strong. For years I would go to mass at 6:15 then return home to take my children to school and myself to work. So in my senior years, I now use the season of Lent to try to help someone. I can take a neighbor to the store or call. Her to see if she needs anything. A phone call to a person who lives alone means a lot. So instead of giving something up I give help if someone needs it. It all gives glory to God.