Friday, March 11, 2011

What Should I Give Up for Lent?

Lent is traditionally a time of remembrance and sacrifice. On Sunday our pastor encouraged us to give up something during Lent to help us remember the suffering of Jesus - to "journey" to the cross with Jesus. I've held back from declaring what I intend to give up. Friends are giving up chocolate, sweets, facebook, and other various pleasures. While I've given up different things in the past, I don't feel like any of those would be much a sacrifice for me. So far the best suggestion I've seen this year came from Ann Voskamp, who suggest giving up ingratitude for gratitude. I've been thinking about what it would look like to truly give up my self, not just a "guilty pleasure." Less of me - more of Jesus; less of my agenda - investing more time in another person. Definitely worthy sacrifices, but, oh so difficult to put into practice. I'm still asking God to show me what He would like me to do.

"My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

- Isaiah 58:3-8