Lent & savoring Jesus

Well, if you made it through my last on Lent then you are more up to speed on where I left off. Along with pursuing these things with my friends previously mentioned, I also invited my team here in DF to pray about whether they wd. like to participate with me in some way in this; and on Thursday they all shared specific things they are giving up for His closeness, as well as specific things they will be doing. It was really a neat and encouraging time to listen to the things they are giving up for our sweet Jesus, things that are precious to their hearts and are going to stretch them. I am smiling thinking of it even now. I am so proud of my friends and their courage.

Through prayer & consideration here is what I decided to do:
What I am giving up/fasting from:
+ I am giving up all films for the next 40 days. I love watching movies and know that there are days when I haven't spent time with God, but I take time to watch a movie, and I want to give that up to be closer to Him. (Also, because there are 4 ten day periods, I am going to add something every 10 days to surrender or fast from—probably things like playstation, watching any tv, and listening to music). I know they may seem small, but movies and music are near and dear to my heart and every time I think of going to a movie, it will remind me how much more worthy of my affections Jesus is, and I hope it spurs me on to delight and trust in Him more.

What I am committing to do:
+ Do an Examen Of Conscience every night before going to bed/or in the morning when I wake up (this involves the following method: 1) Be still for a moment and quiet your mind. 2) Consider God's presence around you. 3) Go back in your mind to when you first woke up today/yesterday. Watch the scene, as if on film. This may lead you to pray for patience, greater love, courage, or other things. 4) Continue through the day, going from scene to scene. As you reflect on them, some scenes may fill you with gratitude and others with regret. Write down some thoughts about this and bring it to the Lord. You also may be led to pray for some of the people you were interacting with during the day. 5) Honestly, what do you want or need from God at this moment?)
+ Take Tuesday evenings and spend an extended time with the Lord in reflection, meditation, reading, and prayer.
+ Asking God to make me a person who is clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Col. 3:12).

I know there are things God needs to change in me and things I need to die to. As Nouwen said above, "There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess.... I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen."

Growing up I wd. hear people say that they gave up a specific food for Lent, like chocolate, and I never really understood what it was all about. I mean, I knew it was about going without something before Easter, but I didn't catch the heart of it in that phrase, "I gave up chocolate FOR Lent." And if people ask me why I won't go to a film with them I want to show them the heart of the matter. I want to show them that Jesus is supremely valuable and worth fighting for. That He is the treasure of my heart and that ""I gave up watching films for 40 days to savor Jesus more than His gifts." This is the heart behind Lent. Not giving up something for a concept, but giving up something so that we can savor Jesus more above all things.

And so, for people who don't know much about this practice, I don't want them to need to wonder. I want them to know that Jesus is worth me sacrificing little things as well as great, and worth giving up things like films and music and chocolate. And that He is worthy of me fighting to make Him the champion of my heart.

Like Nouwen's prayer, I pray you find our sweet Jesus again and in finding Him anew and afresh, you will savor what you find above all else. In His presence is fullness of joy; at His right hand there are pleasures forever (Ps. 16:11)!

Pressing on to know Him more with you (Hosea 6:3).

Cuidate,
ECS

Thoughts on the meaning of Lent

There is a group of guys I met with for two years in an LTG (Life Transformation Group) before I moved down here to Mexico City last fall. I now have one here, but those other guys and I still keep in contact via email and voice from time to time, and they often keep me in the loop by inviting me to do some things they are doing together in the word, as well as helping me continue to grow and process life with them. Well, Don invited us three others to join him in doing a devo every morning from a book during LENT and to pray about some things God may be inviting us to surrender or do during this season leading up to the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

His little devo on Lent is below and what I decided to do as I sought the Lord follows it. I hope it encourages You to surrender those things that may be keeping you from more deeply connecting with the incredible joy found in Christ, and taking on things that will help you connect with Him.

Here is the brief words Don shared with us on the subject which I found very insightful and helpful.

“I wanted to give you a brief devo on LENT to prepare us for the season:

Lent refers to the forty days leading up to Easter. The Lenten season is set aside for self-examination, spiritual renewal, and growth. In many churches, it is seen as a time for fasting and abstinence, for alms-giving and acts of mercy, for repentance and prayer.

Augustine describes the season of Lent this way, ‘In what part of the year could the observance of the forty-day fast be more appropriately instituted than that adjoining, so to speak, and touching on, the Lords Passion?’

People may choose a variety of ways to observe Lent in their personal lives. Some choose to give up something for Lent; this may free them from a bad habit or a distraction or may simplify their lives, and it allows for more time to spend in studying Gods Word or in prayer. Others fast, to cleanse their bodies and to identify with the poor. Some choose to commit themselves to acts of mercy, to giving of their money and their time to service in the Kingdom. Some use these 40 days to focus on a particular portion of scripture or on a devotional book that helps them to journey with Christ to the cross. In all of these ways, people use this season for deeper reflection and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s victory over sin and death on Easter.

A Prayer for Lent, by Henri Nouwen
‘How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of the season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent? How can I rejoice fully in your Resurrection when I have avoided participating in your death?
Yes, Lord, I have to die with you, through you, and in you and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your Resurrection. There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess.... I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen (A Cry for Mercy: Prayers from the Genesee; Image Books, 2002).’”

The above thoughts really remind me how much I allow God’s gifts to take the place of God Himself. I am so aware of my need for Him, but can be so unwilling to make sacrifices to seek Him to fill that need. And I realized I need a season like this—a season of being more intentional about sacrificing things to get closer to Him. So, I began to pray and ask Him what it is He was desiring me to surrender, and what it is He is desiring me to do in this season.

In my next message I will share more about what I decided to do. This message was going to be super long, so I broke it up into two. I invite you to pray about what God may be inviting you to give up or fast from in this season, in order to enjoy Him more and experience His presence anew.

Best to you,
ECS