What I did during lent

Hello!!!! Welcome back! This post is part 2, a post continuing on from the original What do you know about lent? Here is the link if you need to check out part 1!

https://www.gardenofarose.com/post/what-do-you-know-about-lent

Here is a deep dive into what I learned and what I did during lent. Lent was very personal for me! As mentioned in my previous post this is the first time that I had even participated in lent. I didn't even know that Christians could participate in lent! So that right there should tell you that the rest of this is going to be good!

I have been on my journey of self along with growing in Christ going on 3 years now. Both are necessary for me as I get older and because I have a growing family. Learning who you are in Christ is beyond important! Asking yourself "why am I like this?" and asking God to "show me myself" are crucial to your self development as well as your walk with Christ. In the voice of Sarah Jakes Roberts "God can't bless who you pretend to be". That's what lent was for me! Allowing God to remove the distractions and show me to me bare faced! Have him help me through things and really understand MYSELF while deepening my relationship with him.

Idk about you but I was tired of moving backwards! Feeling sad, guilty, and ashamed and falling into the same traps! I realized that the devil wasn't even coming up with any new material! Why did I feel like he was always winning? It's because I wasn't showing up for myself and I wasn't being consistent in all of the areas that I needed God to do a work in me! I couldn't keep asking God to change this and change that while I stayed the same and kept doing the same things! How does that work? How does that change anything? The truth is, it doesn't and it won't. We have free will! As much as I would pray I wasn't making the changes that God needed from me so that I could see a real change! When I got serious about participating in lent and really doing my homework about lent and what really happened to Jesus leading up to Easter it dramatically changed me. I was so sorrowful and weepy during Holy Week because I truly understood the definition of Easter and what his crucifixion and his actual sacrifice means! I don't believe that prior to doing a deep dive into the definition of Easter and lent that I truly understood what HAPPENED! The fact that God gave his 1 and only son up for ME (John 3:16) ?! The question that kept repeating over and over in my mind was "who do I know in real life that would give up their child?" The answer is no one! I don't know any person on this earth that would have died like Jesus did to save their own child and that truly scared me! It made me understand that he loves me that much to have done the work of God even when he didn't want to! He said "get somebody else to do it" in todays terms! He obeyed what his father told him to do! How many of us are actually obeying our parents let alone hearing what God says and doing it? I'll wait! Not many of us!

Ok, so you want to know what I learned and what I did during lent right? I woke up at 6:30 am daily and I read the book Lent: Bitter and Sweet ! Some days it was easy and some days it wasn't. I made it a point to get up and read and study what Jesus went through leading up to Easter/lent. While doing so I would have a cup of coffee and pray. When I didn't understand something I immediately stopped and looked for an answer! The old me would have kept going and attempted to have figured it out later. Later would come and I would keep reading and getting deeper and deeper and eventually get frustrated and stop because I was too confused. I also would use the book mentioned above while I had my bible app or actual bible open. I compared the scriptures listed in the book and sometimes even rewrote them to make them make sense. Taking notes and doing research is how you study and learn! Trust I called my mom and my pastor to help me out on things I didn't understand.

I have to do my study time before my kids get up. The last week or so I had been getting up at 5 or 6 because 6:30 just was too late and I was getting frustrated because I had to stop when it was getting good. I made it a point not to do the dishes or the laundry but to sit down and focus on learning and understanding what I was reading and then going into prayer. I would suggest that you find the time that is best for you!

During the last 5-6 weeks (the first week I was still trying to figure out a game plan for myself and being realistic with my goals). Some things moved around and others stayed the same. Trying to figure out what things I wanted to give up and what I wanted to keep. So I decided to give up alcohol, sweets, cooking shows, not spending money on coffee or extra things I didn't need, and soda. I would recommend that you do what works best for you. I also decided to help people where I could. I was listening to the needs of the people around me and helping them in ways that I could. I sowed into some people whether financially or spiritually. Some people donate to charities but I chose to help the people around me.

I have been getting serious about my finances, my self worth, my no's being no's, and not having to explain myself further than "no". Also, removing the need to have a soda, sweets, or run from issues that stress me out. Why do we always use something (insert what your something is) to heal us or to give us comfort? The word tells us to cast our cares upon him because he cares 1 Peter 5:7, so why don't we? Why do we do everything else to cope and deal with a situation before going to God?

Lent has taught me to really deal what is in front of me and not use soda, food, tv, gossip, trash tv, or sweets as a way to cope. Because after all of the unhealthy coping mechanisms comes the negative self talk and negative self worth and then the infamous comparison! Jesus has taught me that I can do anything because he lives inside of me and he's right there with me! I'm not going to lie sometimes it doesn't feel like he's there but he is! Something that I heard TD Jakes say on 1 of his sermons was something along the lines of "remember the good times" when you need help holding onto God's promises remember the times when he did rescue you and the times that he did get you out of trouble! Philippians 4:8-9 GNDBC states in conclusion, my brothers and sisters, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable. Put into practice what you learnt and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.

During the times that I would be watching a cooking show I would watch a sermon instead! I also, gave up posting on social media. Not posting on social media was different because I typically will post something inspirational and uplifting but I also know what it's like to keep checking to see how many people engaged with my post. So, in order to not worry about that I didn't post. I did post things related to my church and my program JAMM. I did not aimlessly scroll on IG and FB though. The time that I would be mindlessly scrolling or watching tv I would replace the time with prayer, reading the word, or bible study. It's important to use the free time that you have wisely. I also kept up with working out,

This isn't a message to get you to feel bad or sorry but it is to wake you up and to get you on track! Really read the word! Get into Matthew, Luke, and John and the book lent book I mentioned and see what the word says! The purpose of lent is to give up something that you would truly miss! I didn't think I could give up unnecessary spending, coffee, my cooking shows, soda, and an occasional drink! Because I relied on those things to get me through versus Jesus!

Take the journey and die to self! Jesus had to! Die to your desires and see how much stronger you come out in the end. Fasting is showing God that you would like his help to participate in something that you're asking for. Within days God was already transforming me and I know he will do the same for you! Get a head start on lent for next year or just do your own sabbath or fast. Pray and ask God to help you on your journey!

If you have questions please send a message.

Recap

1. My relationship with Christ is MOST important!

2. My relationship with Christ helps me to deal with everything and everyone else in my life

3. Stop asking for blessings but instead ask to be able to have stewardship over what I do have and how to maintain the blessings that are coming

4. I can't do anything if I don't stop doing unnecessary things that are harmful to my growth

5. Saying "no" is easier than I thought

6. Pray before and over everything

7. Saving money isn't that hard

8. Imagine all of the distractions Jesus didn't have when he was fasting

9. Come to God as you ARE

As always I pray that this has blessed you and I ask you to share it with someone that could use it!

Scriptures mentioned

John 3:16

1 Peter 5:7

Philippians 4:8-9