This past Wednesday, with Ash Wednesday, the church entered a beautiful season of transformation called Lent. Lent is the forty-day season in the Christian calendar that stretches from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, the eve of Easter. It’s a time of quiet preparation — a kind of spiritual winter before the great feast of spring.
At its heart, Lent is an invitation to slow down and pay attention. Traditionally, this takes three forms: fasting (eating less, or giving something up), prayer (spending more intentional time in quiet and reflection), and generosity (turning outward toward those in need). The idea is that by loosening the grip of ordinary comforts and distractions, something deeper becomes visible — what you truly hunger for, where your heart really sits.
Think of it as tending a garden before planting season — clearing away what’s overgrown, turning the soil, making room. Many people give up small pleasures like sweets, social media, or alcohol, not as feats of willpower, but as gentle, daily reminders that they’re in a season of waiting and seeking.
In this season, we invite you to fast. Abstaining from desires seems radical in our culture where we are most often encouraged, “you do you!” Fasting anchors us to our need of God’s presence and provision, and it anchors us within the deeper hunger of humankind’s longing for deliverance. In my group, Exploring Spiritual Rhythms, we are leaning into the rhythm of fasting this month. For those interested in going us in this experience, please check out the overview document.
Blessings to you as we let Jesus sustain us!
Come, Lord Jesus,
James