Rethinking Lent: A Season of Intention, Not Just Deprivation

Hey, friends!

As Ash Wednesday approaches, many of us find ourselves contemplating what we will give up for Lent. Traditionally, this season is marked by fasting, self-denial, and a conscious effort to resist the comforts we often take for granted. While fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline with undeniable health benefits—such as autophagy, insulin regulation, and reduced inflammation—Lent is about much more than just deprivation. Too often, we approach these 40 days with a mindset of restriction rather than renewal. But what if, instead of solely focusing on what we must remove, we centered our attention on what we can add to our lives to deepen our relationship with God?

The practice of Lent has deep historical and theological roots. It mirrors the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and preparing for His public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). Throughout Scripture, fasting is used as a way to seek clarity, strength, and divine intervention—Moses fasted before receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28), Esther called a fast to intercede for her people (Esther 4:16), and Daniel fasted to gain wisdom and understanding (Daniel 10:2-3). However, these individuals didn’t fast for the sake of deprivation alone; they did so as a means of drawing closer to God. Their fasting was about spiritual realignment, not just physical discipline.

This Lenten season, instead of solely focusing on fasting from food, consider what other practices might bring you into deeper communion with the Divine. Maybe it's dedicating daily time for prayer and reflection, setting boundaries with social media to be more present, or committing to a healthier financial plan. Perhaps your soul needs restoration through intentional time with loved ones or by embracing a creative practice that brings you joy. Lent can be a time of cultivating wholeness—mind, body, and spirit—by removing distractions that keep us from God and adding habits that draw us closer.

Let this be the year we redefine our Lenten commitments. Fasting is a beautiful practice, but it is not the only way to grow spiritually. Rather than simply depriving yourself, ask: What can I do to experience God in a fuller way? How can I embody love, grace, and discipline in a way that transforms not just these 40 days but the days that follow? Whether through fasting, intentional rest, or acts of service, may this Lenten season be a time of deepened faith, renewed purpose, and spiritual transformation.