Yes! it is another season of lent, and Christians around the world especially those of the Catholics faiths are religiously observing.
Lent, put together is simply a time set aside for spiritual connection to God. According to Sarah Phillips of Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer, “Just as we set aside time to spiritually prepare for Christmas Day, it makes sense to set aside time to prepare for the two most important days of the Christian year. Lent is a time that offers us an opportunity to come to terms with the human condition we may spend the rest of the year running from and it brings our need for a Savior to the forefront. Like Advent, Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper, so that when Good Friday and eventually Easter comes, it is not just another day at church but an opportunity to receive the overflowing of graces God has to offer”.
However, the idea of it all is abstinence from every pleasure and to be in sober reflection of the passion of Jesus Christ. Lent is also an opportunity to contemplate what our Lord really did for us on the Cross – and it wasn’t pretty. But ultimately, the purpose of Lent does not stop at sadness and despair – it points us to the hope of the Resurrection and the day when every tear will be dried (Rev. 21:3).
Although the nature of suffering is not one that offers itself to easy an explanations, the answers we seek seem to make the most sense in light of the Cross. There is nothing in the world – no religion, philosophy, or material comfort – that offers such a powerful answer to life’s toughest questions as the two slabs of wood on which our Savior died. Basically I was drawn to Christianity in search of joy, it’s the grace that the Cross brings that keeps me coming back day after day, year after year.
That is why I will always say that lent for me is a time of celebration, it brings to mind the unconditional love of our lord Jesus,because I am reminded of what Jesus did for me.
The Lenten season developed as part of the historical Christian calendar and is typically celebrated by Catholics and some mainline Protestant churches that follow a liturgical calendar. Although its format has varied throughout the centuries and throughout different cultures, the basic concept remains the same: to open our hearts to God’s refining grace through prayer, confession, fasting, and alms giving as we anticipate Holy Week.
Lent traditionally lasts forty days, modeled after Christ’s forty day fast in the desert, and ends on Good Friday. In the Western Church, Lent officially begins with a reminder of our mortality on Ash Wednesday (this year, falling on March 1st).
So, as we observe this period here are some useful tips to note spiritually and physically;
- Meditating on Christ’s Sacrifice for Mankind
- Charity/Alms giving should be a major reason for the fast
- Prepare your body for the fast and prevent constipation during and after the fast by eating certain preventative foods at least two days beforehand such as: fresh fruit and raw vegetables, fruit or vegetable juices, oatmeal, etc.
- Avoid high-fat and sugary foods during the fast.
- Drink plenty of water. (Drinking at least half of your body weight in ounces of water per day is a good rule of thumb whether you are fasting or not.)
- It is wise to abstain from strong stimulants such as caffeinated and sugary drinks during a fast, including the artificial sweeteners found in diet drinks. Also, avoid soy protein drinks, which have been known to cause health problems during a fast.
- Expect some physical discomforts because of the detoxification process, especially on the second day. You may have fleeting hunger pains or dizziness. Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches, but it is a part of the detoxification process. Physical annoyances may also include weariness, tiredness, nausea, and sleepiness.
- There is nothing wrong with a little apple cider vinegar in your water, it helps flushes out all the toxic waste your body have stored up over the years.
- Take time to pray and read the Word. This may seem obvious, but busyness and distractions can keep you from devotions.
Considering the benefits of the period to me makes lent my must anticipated period of the year, both spiritually and physically. do not let this period slip you by, take advantage and enjoy the Lenten season.
Author: Grace Folarin
Additional source: Crosswalk.com
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