Lent is around the corner Part 2

What will I do for Lent? (part 2)

In last week's post 'Lent is around the corner', my focus related to Lent being a spiritual journey and vacation with the Lord. Suggestions were given as to some requirements for the journey. If you missed this post, why not check it out.

We are now closer to Lent and indeed, Lent is around the corner. Crunch time for deciding what we are going to do?  How do we decide what we are going to do? Perhaps these three steps may assist:

STEPS TO ASSIST.

1. Assess your past year: Give yourself a mark out of 10 in the following areas and make notes of areas that need improving and areas for which you are grateful

• Relationship with God: Is God the love of your life, do you spend quality or distracted time with Him in prayer, in listening and conversing?
• Relationship with immediate and extended family: What might I do to mend a quarrel or build a bridge this Lent? 
• Relationship with yourself: your health, your work, your overall happiness.
• Relationship with the world: your environment, your participation in your neighbourhood and your response to those in need in the community.

2. Drawing on your responses from your assessment, ask God to enlighten you as to what is challenging and achievable in the areas of prayer, fasting and alms-giving to be the person God desires you to be.

3. Decide on your commitment for this Lent drawing from your own assessment and what God has inspired you to do.  How you will achieve them?  Are all three areas of prayer, fasting and alms-giving (time, talent and treasure) represented?  Are they challenging and achievable? 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Over the years I have had various types of Lents, some spiritually successful, and ones that I rather forget. I need a Lenten commitment that has sufficient variety. Commitment to the one activity in each of the three areas of prayer, fasting and alms-giving for the whole of Lent is not effective for my personality.

One tool that helped me in preparing for a spiritually successful Lent is to have a personal Lenten calendar assessable only to myself.  It is not the type of calendar to put on the fridge.!!!  

Once having decided on my commitment in each of the three areas of prayer, fasting and alms-giving, I allocate them onto my calendar. It acts as a reminder of my commitment and provides a definite focus for each day during Lent. 

As we turn our minds and hearts to our Lenten commitment, let us keep focused on the purpose of Lent.

May your take the road back to God and have a conversion of heart this Lent.