LENT:
So every year since I was about 4 years old I have participated in Lent. We grew up Methodist and my mom always encouraged us in some way to give up one big thing (a lot of the time food related, ex: chocolate) and add one positive thing in our spiritual journey. Lent is originated in the catholic faith but anyone is able to participate in Lent! If you are unaware of what lent is or what it partakes view the info below:
So I have always been used to the idea of lent and following the special 40 day spiritual journey. When I was little, a lot of the time I would give up chocolate, brownies, or ice cream and add in more bible scriptures and prayer to my day. One year I went as far as giving up all forms of TV for the 40 days. That was so challenging for a 7 year old but I am so proud to say I did it 100% along with my sister!
I so look forward to the journey of Lent every year because it forces you to stop and commit to your sacrifice and in that, turn to God in the times of weakness and keep him in your mind throughout the day more than you might think to the rest of the year. This allows the hope and desire to incorporate the aspects of lent and new good spiritual habits continuing on into your daily life. Lent is a special, personal, spiritual journey that allows you to grow closer to the Lord especially in the times of weakness. When you are really craving or desiring the item you gave up, you turn to God to give you strength. It creates a close spiritual connection that is just so vital. That alone is the aspect of Lent I look forward to the most. God is the way, the truth, and the light.
For my spiritual journey of Lent this year, I have decided to give up completely the main foods that wreck havoc on my cholesterol (which kills two birds with one stone) and to add in daily bible time to my morning routine along with daily prayers before bed. I always purpose to read scripture and pray every day but I am imperfect and fall short constantly on those goals. So that is what I love about these 40 days forcing me to live up to my promise and goals spiritually. So every morning at 5:30am before work, I crawl out of my bed still in my pajamas and find a nice cozy place with my bible and journal and highlight my favorite versus from my passage for that day and write down my thoughts on the readings and how they resonate with my and my life.
Before Lent this year, I wanted to have a structured scripture list to follow by to help give my a direction and an easy way to dive into reading so much of the bible in one sitting. So below is the scripture list I found on Pinterest of what I read each day :) What a blessing! I just wanted to share with you guys in case you were looking for something similar! I went through a few list ideas such as the one below and this one was by far the best. The versus chosen were so good and so closely correlated to Jesus's journey in the dessert 40 days without food and his sufferings, and just all things insightfully about sacrifice, dedication, fellowship, faith, prayer, and just Lent itself. I also found a prayer list below that to help guide me in a prayer topic of the day. I loved it! (Don't mind the dates on the list, I think it was created for Lent dates 3 years ago).
The prayer topic list to correlate with the scriptures and your prayer focus of the day! Enjoy!:)
Enjoy your own specific Lent journey growing closer to the Lord and the ability to even have something to give up and sacrifice! We are all very fortunate to have what we have and the blessings God has already given us in life! God is so good!
With so much love,
Kayla Raborn
3-17-18
P.S. On a completely unrelated note, Cody asked me out for the first time (actually to prom) 7 years ago today! Incredible how time flies! 7 years of bliss! :) <3
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