How do you practice your faith?  For many Baptists this might sound like a strange question.  Given thought, one might answer: prayer, Bible study, worship.  All of these are good answers.  Consider though, the possibility of other ways that our God the Holy Spirit might deepen our walk with Him.  One such possibility, I believe, is found in observing Lent.  Although the concept is somewhat foreign to most Baptists, it’s well worth your investigation and possible participation.

When I think of Lent, I think of withdrawing with Jesus.  As Jesus withdrew into the wilderness for forty days of fasting and preparation, we too (at least during these forty days) withdraw from the world to a greater degree in order to possibly hear more clearly the voice of our Lord.

We may choose to look at this time as a period of sacrifice in our lives – one in which we give over something dear to us expressing to our greater Love that nothing is more precious to us than Him.  Or we could possibly see this time as an opportunity for intensifying our pursuit of God’s will in our lives by increasing our prayers and meditation.

However you may choose to – or not to – observe this time is between you and your loving Lord.  But you will do well to remember that this time frame is designed specifically to point us toward the sacrifice of Christ for our redemption which culminates in the celebrating of His victory over our death.  So maybe, just a thought . . . maybe, it’s worth the effort?

– Dale