40 days of prayer - day 2

Lent: A Season of Reflection and Renewal 

Author: Pastor Ryan Roberts

Lent is a sacred time set aside to reflect on our relationship with God. It is a season of examining our hearts, recognizing areas where sin may be taking root, and drawing closer to Him. Sin separates us from God, but Lent provides an opportunity to acknowledge and repent of our sins. This season leads us to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, when we remember and celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice—defeating sin and offering us true freedom.

Lent is a time to open our hearts to God through prayer, fasting, confession, and giving as we prepare for Holy Week. Traditionally lasting forty days, it mirrors Jesus’ time in the wilderness, where He fasted and resisted temptation.

Fasting: A Spiritual Discipline

Fasting is the voluntary act of giving something up for a greater purpose— to draw closer to God. It isn’t just about food; it can also mean setting aside distractions like social media, entertainment, or anything that shifts our focus away from Him. The goal of fasting is not simply self-denial, but a deeper dependence on God. When we feel the absence of what we’ve given up, we are reminded to turn to Him in prayer and seek His presence.

As Joel 2:12-13 reminds us:

“That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.’ Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”

Making Room for God

Our lives are often filled with constant distractions—busy schedules, multiple commitments, and endless notifications. Even in our moments of rest, we are bombarded with emails, phone calls, and social media. In this fast-paced world, it’s easy to forget to pause and make room for God. Yet, He longs for our attention. He desires a deep, loving relationship with us.

I love the song Make Room that we sing on Sundays—it reminds me to surrender my distractions and let God move in my life. The lyrics beautifully reflect how we should approach this time of Lent:

“Here is where I lay it down, every burden, every crown. This is my surrender. This is my surrender. I will make room for You to do whatever You want to.”

Where in your life do you need to make room for God?

Spring Cleaning for the Soul

Growing up, my mom always took time for spring cleaning. I thought it was something she made up just to get me to clean my room. But it turns out, it’s a real tradition—a time to find clutter, remove what is unnecessary, and bring organization and renewal to our homes. Spring cleaning is the practice of thoroughly cleansing a space, making it more open, useful, and refreshed.

The term “spring cleaning” is also used metaphorically for any kind of deep renewal or reorganization. A person who gets their affairs in order before an audit or inspection could be said to be doing some spring cleaning.

What spring cleaning do we need to do in our hearts and minds?

Lent is an invitation to lay down our distractions, surrender our burdens, and refocus on what truly matters in our relationship with God. When we create space for Him, we allow Him to work in our hearts, renew our minds, and strengthen our faith.

A Prayer for Lent

God,

As we enter this season of Lent, help us to pause and reflect on our relationship with You. Reveal the areas of our hearts that need cleansing and renewal. Reveal anything in our lives that may be distracting us from You. May we surrender our burdens, our doubts, and our distractions, making room for You to work in our lives. Draw us closer to You.

Thank You for the victory and freedom we have in Jesus.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.