LENT Day 4

Lent Devotional

Day 4 – Saturday, February 21, 2026

"A Journey, Not a Ritual"

Author: Pastor Christen

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Scripture: Luke 9:23 & Hebrews 12:11

Lent is not a religious checklist. It is not about proving you gave something up for 40 days. It is not about spiritual box-checking.

It is a journey.

A journey of formation. A slow shaping of the heart as we walk toward the cross.

Jesus says in Luke 9:23, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

Have you ever sat and really thought about what it means to deny yourself? I’ll never forget the first time those words truly hit me right between the eyes. We live in a culture where we rarely deny ourselves anything. Most of the time, we don’t go without we just figure out how to make it work. We will deplete our bank accounts before we deprive ourselves of something we want. Our limitations are rarely accessibility; they’re financial.

Why do we struggle to deny ourselves? Because there is a desire. A want. A perceived need. And desire is powerful.

But here’s the deeper question: How often do we desire, want, or need God? Especially when things are going okay. Do we only reach for Him in chaos? Only cry out in crisis? Only hunger for Him when life feels unstable?

Lent gently exposes that tendency. Fasting creates a space where we feel a desire a want a craving and instead of immediately satisfying it, we pause. We intentionally replace that desire with prayer. We allow the longing to redirect us. We give God the first-place spot. That’s what denying yourself begins to look like. Not self-punishment. Not misery. But re-ordering.

Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

Discipline feels uncomfortable. The cross was uncomfortable. Formation is uncomfortable. But resurrection doesn’t happen without a cross. Lent prepares our hearts for Easter. It trains us to loosen our grip on ourselves so we can more fully follow Jesus. It teaches us that saying “no” to ourselves can create space to say a deeper “yes” to God. This is not ritual. It is relationship. It is training. It is transformation. And it is daily.

Prayer

Jesus, you didn’t invite me to comfort you invited me to follow. Teach me what it really means to deny myself. Show me where I satisfy every desire without ever considering you. When I feel longing, help me turn toward you instead of away. Train my heart through discipline. Shape me on this journey toward the cross. Prepare me for resurrection. Amen.