Take a Challenge On for Lent

When I think of my Lenten sacrifice it’s usually along the lines of food.  Give up chocolate or soda for 40 days. Or a habit that I don’t like, like swearing (boy do I have a sailor’s mouth). Besides showing that I have the discipline to do it, what does it show?  Does it bring me closer to God? There is something to be said about self-discipline. However, what does it prove other than I can use self-discipline against ice-cream for 40 days but not the other 325?

My Lenten sacrifices were just another to-do on my list.

• What if we gave up selfishness for 40 days by doing something kind for 40 days.
• What if we gave up separateness for 40 days by writing a letter a day for 40 days.
• What if we gave up dissension for 40 days by only speaking well of people.
• What if we gave up 30 minutes of sleep by giving God 30 minutes of prayer. or 15 minutes or 10.

Now that’s something I can get behind.  That’s a sacrifice that moves me closer to God.

First I had to be willing to give up something that my Flesh Woman craved.

I went to Galatians 5 for ideas. First Galatians 5:19-21, lays my faults right on the line.

‘The acts of the flesh are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like”

It didn’t take but a second for one to make me wince.  While I have many faults and flaws, there was one in particular that I’m struggling with. I’d love to be able to give up that flaw for Lent but with what could I replace it with?

Galatians 5:22-23 describe the virtues of Christ –

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”.

Which on of these virtues would I replace my flaw with and how?

The answer came to me. I knew what and how I was going to take on. I knew how to sacrifice my “fits of rage” that masquerade as petulant anger. I knew that forbearance would replace my under-the-breadth utterances.   I knew to whom my 40 days of kind acts would be focused on.

With so much discord and fear in the world, this is a Lent that I need to do something that balances.  I need to do something that moves me closer to God. I need tangible actions to replace what I’m giving up.

I’m daring you to do the same.

Beth