Ash Wednesday Fail

Yesterday was the first day of the Lenten season. I did not grow up observing Lent, but as I began to read about this season the more I felt drawn to it. 46 days including Sundays and Maudy Thursday, Good Friday, and the day before Easter. Yes 46 days to focus on Christ…to begin in the dessert as Jesus began His ministry and focus our hearts on His greatest act of love.

So I decided to give up my snooze button for Lent…Sleeping in has become a way of rebellion and sin in my life…So the snooze button had to go…

But Wednesday morning what did I do? I hit that snooze button…a bunch of times. I could give you a string of reasons why and I could claim justification for my actions, but the truth is more potent…I am a desperate slave to sin and I need a Savior who is willing to come after me as I race back to my chains of bondage rather than walk in freedom with Him.

So on Ash Wednesday all I had were ashes to bring to the King. Ashes He would wipe away and tell me it is not by your works that you are saved. It is by my work on the cross and your faith in the sufficiency of that work.

Outside my window clumps of sleet melted and inside my heart some icy places melted and broke apart. God forgave even me and I knew if there was any way I would make it through this Lent season it was in desperate dependence on Christ.

But isn't that how I'm to live everyday? Dependent on a filling of the Holy Spirit to please Christ in every word and deed? I can't do it by myself. I can't even please God before I get out of bed without His help.

This Lent season I am in for a wild ride — an adventure to see joy in the deprivation and obedience to God.

Do you observe Lent? If so how?

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