“At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him” (Mark 1:12-13).

Has it crossed anyone else’s mind the irony of the fact that the first day of Lent (Ash Wednesday) and Valentine’s Day fall on the same day in 2024? In fact, I struggled a bit at first, because if I were to give up a food for Lent, it probably should be chocolate. Not only is it my favorite food, but what signifies Valentine’s Day more, besides flowers, than chocolate? Clearly, I have chocolate on the brain. So this devotional is for me, and if you like, you can read along.

Background: Christians celebrate Easter and proclaim the resurrection of Christ. For the forty or so days before Easter, we may also celebrate a special time on the formal Church calendar called Lent. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. By observing the forty days of Lent, Christians remember Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.

Lent is typically marked by fasting, both from food and festivities. Lent officially begins today, Ash Wednesday, and ends on Easter Sunday, March 31. In case you are doing the math, the forty days of Lent include all the days except for Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. During Lent, we are celebrating Christ’s resurrection, and since Christians already celebrate resurrection every Sunday, Sundays are not included in Lent.

Why 40 days? Forty is a significant biblical number; there are many references to forty in the Bible. For example, it rained on the ark for forty days and forty nights. Moses stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, and the Israelites ate manna in the wilderness for forty years. And Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness fasting and praying and overcoming temptation from Satan. The number forty is figurative language representing a long period of trial, testing, or patience; so the forty days before Easter are set aside by many to prepare spiritually for the celebration of Easter, the highlight of the Christian year, because Christ’s Resurrection means eternal life for all believers.

What is my plan for these forty days of Lent? I must remind myself that the object is not to glorify myself by completing an assignment such as the avoidance of a favorite food. The objective is to glorify our Lord and Savior. My understanding of fasting is that it is a private practice, and the goal of fasting would be to better utilize my time in prayer and Bible study.

• For example, rather than spending time on grocery shopping and meal preparation and the consumption of food, you would spend that time in prayer and Bible study. Or you could spend time in prayer and Bible study rather than a video game, Netflix movie, etc. Better utilization of time.
• Another thing to remember is that this change in habits will be uncomfortable. Even Jesus was famished at the end of his forty days of fasting.
• Also, fasting by definition is intended to be private. Don’t ask, or tell, what you are “giving up for Lent.” That defeats the purpose because it makes it about us rather than Jesus; about the sacrifice rather than the One being honored for His sacrifice.
• Also, it is a practice. We may not perfectly complete our fast, but it is our motivation and effort that matter. So if you mess up, just ask for forgiveness, and then begin again.

Will I be able to observe Lent and enjoy Valentine’s Day? You betcha. What am I giving up for Lent? Don’t ask. Just know that I will be making every effort to devote myself to prayer and Bible study. Do you have to observe Lent to do that? Of course not. Again, the point is cultivating our relationship with the Lord, however, you choose to do it, in preparation for a glorious celebration of Resurrection Sunday.

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

In Christ,

Judy