Photograph by Aaron Burden via Unsplash
New Year’s resolutions vs. Lenten practices
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Did you stick to them? Most people don’t. It’s not realistic to create a resolution for a whole year.
Lenten practices are different. For one thing, they have a spiritual focus. In addition, Lent gives you a chance to commit to a practice for just 40 days. That’s a lot easier than 365 days. And you can even take a break on Sundays. The 40 days parallel the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. Lent began as a time to prepare new converts for baptism at Easter.
Jesus faced three temptations in the wilderness. (See Matthew 4:1-11). In this story, the devil tempts Jesus to:
- turn stones into bread to alleviate his hunger
- to throw himself off a mountain to prove he is the Son of God, and
- worship the devil in exchange for the kingdoms of the world.
A reflection on this text from Taizé suggests: “The tempter puts Jesus to the test in three areas, and attempts each time to deform his relationship with God the Father and with human beings. First of all, he invites Jesus to cope with his hunger all by himself, by turning stones into bread (v. 3). Then he asks him to manipulate God by throwing himself from the pinnacle of the temple so that God can save him (v. 6). Finally, he invites him to enter into the game of domination by offering him power over earthly kingdoms in exchange for his homage (v. 8-9).”
What are you doing for Lent this year? What might you take a break from, just for 40 days? What might you take on, just for 40 days? It could do more to renew your year than any of your resolutions.
- What’s a practice that could help us cope with hunger, physical or emotional? You might choose to take a break from something that you tend to be compulsive about. It could be chocolate, YouTube, or some aspect of your work (yes, even work!)
- What’s a practice to work on our tendency to manipulate God? (As if we could!) You could take a break from telling God what to do in prayer. I’ve found it helpful to practice a brief time of meditative prayer. I sit quietly before God, sometimes only for a minute or two. Another practice is to mention names to God without suggesting what God ought to do.
- What’s a practice to work on our desire for power over earthly kingdoms? Here’s one idea: Take a break from giving advice to those around us. The kingdom could be as small as a small church or even a marriage.
What are you doing for Lent this year? What might you take a break from, just for 40 days? What might you take on, just for 40 days? How is God leading you to grow through this season?
It could do more to renew your year than any of your resolutions.
Rev. Margaret Marcuson helps ministers do their work without wearing out or burning out, through ministry coaching, presentations and online resources.
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
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