Isaiah 40:3 (NIV)
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
There are two holidays we celebrate every year that memorialize the foundations of the Christian faith – Christmas, where we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and Easter, where we celebrate His death and resurrection. I am struck by the importance of each of these holidays and what they represent. Christmas marks the beginning of God dwelling on Earth as a fellow human. Easter marks the end of that time and forges the path forward until He physically returns to Earth again. It makes sense to me that each of these holidays is traditionally preceded by a period of contemplation and preparation, and for Easter, that time is known as Lent.
While the Bible does not specifically direct us to observe Lent, it often instructs us to set aside time for prayer and fasting. Before beginning His ministry, Jesus spent 40 days praying and fasting in the wilderness to prepare for the work He was about to do. In the same way, we are invited to spend our own 40-day period of prayer and fasting as we look toward celebrating Easter.
Recently, during my own self-examination, I came to realize that I gravitate towards negativity and problems in areas of my life. I realized I spend a lot of energy and time focusing on how I perceive things going wrong around me. This is a longstanding tendency of my flesh, so I know it is an area of constant growth for me. I also know that while complaining and venting can make me feel better in the moment, focusing on negativity and problems can lead to bitterness and resentment. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (NIV). With that in mind, this year, I am choosing to focus on preparing my heart and my thoughts.
Here are some things in my life that I am examining to help guard my heart:
What am I listening to?
I have noticed that what I allow to go into my ears shapes my mood and my attitude toward others. So I put together a playlist of worship songs focused on inviting God into my everyday life and remembering that He is the source of my hope. I listen to this playlist while I get ready in the morning, whenever I am driving, and while I work.
Who am I listening to?
In 1 Kings 12, Rehoboam becomes king. When a situation arises, he seeks advice from two groups of people – the older men who had previously advised his father Solomon (who, by the way, was considered the wisest man on earth), and his buddies he grew up with. Rehoboam follows the advice of his buddies. This causes a revolt among the people, where he is driven out of the kingdom, and the people name someone else king. This story reminds me how important it is to surround myself with people who offer the advice that I need to hear, not the advice that I want to hear.
How am I spending my time?
I know that rest and relaxation are important parts of a healthy lifestyle, but sometimes I can get carried away with it. Often in Scripture and in life, a house is a metaphor for our bodies, and Ecclesiastes 10:18 says, “Through extreme laziness the rafters sag, and through idleness the house is weak.” This is a sharp reminder that I cannot spend all of my spare time playing games on my phone or binging nostalgic TV shows. For a long time, I have spent a lot of energy on making myself as comfortable as possible, but I have learned that is not what is best for my body, my family, and my own spiritual growth. So, I have become more intentional about spending my time and energy on what will help me grow rather than what will make me comfortable.
If you have not already started to part. pat. n Lent, it is not too late! Take some time this weekend to examine your heart and ask God to help you find areas where you can grow.