A Look at Lent

When people think of Lent, they think of giving something up.

But Lent is more than just giving up sugar, soda or social media. It’s an invitation to draw closer to God. To reflect, repent, and realign our hearts with His. 

Although the word "Lent" is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, the themes of repentance, fasting, reflection, and preparation are deeply rooted in Scripture.

Here are some powerful Bible verses to meditate on in the season of Lent:

1. Repenting & Returning to God

• Joel 2:12-13 – “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”
  

• Acts 3:19 – “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

2. Fasting & Seeking God

• Matthew 6:16-18 – “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do… But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen.”
  

• Isaiah 58:6 – “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?”

3. Preparing Your Heart & Drawing Close to God

• James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
  

• Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

4. The 40-Day Theme (Jesus’ Time in the Wilderness)

• Matthew 4:1-2 – “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
  

• Luke 4:2-4 – “For forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them He was hungry… Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

5. Sacrifice & Christ’s Journey to the Cross

• Philippians 2:8 – “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
  

• John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Lent is a time to repent, reflect, and renew our faith in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter. May these verses guide your heart during this sacred season.