fbpx

When I was growing up we were encouraged to give up something for Lent. I would choose various things to give up, usually something I liked, maybe cake, but not something I really really liked, like ice cream. 😉 I do believe it made me more aware of the season of Lent. 

This Lent season, I’m not sure I need to give up something; although there’s nothing wrong with the “giving up,” and self-discipline is always good. I’m finding with all that is going on in my life and the world around me that what I want to do is lean into Jesus and trust Him more. Trust him when my future looks so different than I imagined, trust him with my past and all the mistakes, trust him for his plan and purpose for my life now.

What do you need to lean into Jesus for and trust Him with this Lent season? Your finances? Health? Relationships? Purpose? Grief? Anxiety? That’s really why Jesus came. He wants us to lean into Him because we can’t manage our own life. We can’t save ourselves and we can’t earn heaven. If we could Jesus wouldn’t have needed to come… For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This Lenten season I want to trust Jesus more with all the uncertainty of my future. I want to accept His plan and purpose for me. Even when it looks so much different than I expected and when I don’t understand. Lord, you keep reminding me that your plans are higher than my plans.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts higher than your thoughts”

– (Isaiah 55:9).

Help me to believe and trust that it is true.

What I do want to give up this Lent season is my self-centeredness that keeps me from seeing or caring about the needs of others. I want to give up my lack of love for people that look and act differently than I do. I really want to give up my judgmental attitude that judges people without knowing what’s going on in their lives or what has gone on in their past. This Lent season I want to lean into Jesus, trust Him, and become more like Him. I want Him to be enough for me.

~ Pat Estes

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash