The Pastor's Pen

            Lent mirrors Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), a time of testing that became a theater for obedience and spiritual clarity. The number forty in Scripture signifies preparation and transformation- Israel’s forty years in the desert (Deuteronomy 8:2). Moses’ forty days on Sinai (Exodus 34:28). Lent, then, is not merely about self-denial; it is about reorientation. The prophet Joel captures its essence: “Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful” (Joel 2:13). To “return” (Hebrew: shuv) means to turn back with the whole heart. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (Matthew 6:1-18), we create space for God to search us, cleanse us, and reorder our lives. Fasting loosens the grip of what distracts; prayer deepens intimacy; generosity re-forms our hearts in Christlike compassion. Lent is a Spriit-led recalibration of our walk with God. Lent does not leave us where we began. It propels us into deeper obedience and clearer vocation. For some, Lent is a return from spiritual drift; for others, it is an ascent into greater maturity. If you are already walking faithfully in your calling, this season becomes a prayerful petition for enlargement: “Enlarge the place of your tent” (Isaiah 54:2).

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            Ask boldly: Lord, what is the next step? What is the next dimension of obedience, influence, or surrender? Lent teaches us that consecration precedes commission. As we decrease, Christ increases (John 3:30). As we humble ourselves, God exalts in due time (1 Peter 5:6). The wilderness becomes a womb of destiny. In this sacred season, we trust that God will minister to us intimately and personally- addressing not only our relationship with Him but also with others. Jesus names love of God and neighbor as the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-39). Lent invites relational examination: Where is forgiveness needed?  Where has pride fractured unity? Where has busyness displaced devotion? God’s renewal is holistic. Vertical reconciliation fuels horizontal restoration. “If we walk in the light…we have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7). As we draw near to God, He draws near to us (James 4:8), and that nearness reshapes how we love, speak, serve, and forgive. Lent is a journey marked by grace, sustained by the Spirit, and oriented toward resurrection hope. Ash Wednesday reminds us that life is fleeting; Lent reminds us that grace is enduring.

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            Therefore, we enter this season expecting. Allow God to cleanse what must be cleansed, restore what must be restored, and awaken what must be awakened. Trust that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6). Whether returning from wandering or pressing into a higher calling let this be your prayer: “Lord, transform me- so that I may reflect You more clearly and follow You more fully.” From ashes to awakening, from repentance to renewal, Lent becomes not merely a season on the calendar, but a sacred catalyst- drawing us closer to God and sending us forward in the power of His redemption.