Time to Breathe

Lent is always a special time in the church year. It is a time of contemplation and prayer. Lent gives us the opportunity to seek God’s face earnestly. We have time to sit at His feet and, in silence, seek answers to a myriad of questions. It is a time of deeper spiritual growth. The practice of giving up something for Lent is a chance to give away a bit of yourself in order to gain something of God.

Lent is also a time of overcoming different things. We are more attentive to challenges in our lives. We are compelled to address these challenges. We don’t always address our challenges immediately due to time constraints and various other factors. We shift them into a corner for another day or we spend just enough time facing them to avert a crisis. But our issues never get fully resolved. This has a great impact on our spiritual growth. We are stunted in our growth.

God never intended for man to have a difficult life and especially not having a difficult time in walking with Him. He was more than happy to let us have a peaceful, God-filled life, but unfortunately Adam and Eve had different ideas. We are therefore in the difficult position of having to fend off all the temptations of this life.

The wonderful news is that God is always willing and able to meet us where we are. He does not require of us to do extreme acts to get in a close relationship with Him. His only request is that we allow Him into our hearts and lives. He has already done the extreme. He gave his only Son. Jesus closed the gap that was created back in the Garden of Eden. He fulfilled all requirements for having a perfect relationship with the Father. Jesus came and offered himself so we don’t have to.

So if Jesus did all this – what are we to do? We need to take the time during these 40 days of Lent and really cement a closer walk with Jesus. We need to develop a heart for God, for others and for ourselves. A heart that cares, forgives, face challenges, is teachable, is willing to walk the extra mile and most of all, a heart that takes care of itself.

Taking care of and loving yourself is not a sin but an absolute necessity. If we neglect ourselves, we are of no value to the body of Christ.

May I challenge you and myself during this Lent to take the time to take care of ourselves? To take the time to spend in silence with God. To take the time to meditate on His Word. To take the time to face your challenges. To take the time to simply breathe.

May you experience the love and care of God during this Lent and may you be reassured that He is always with you, no matter your circumstances.

Love in Christ