Denial and Freedom

This is the second in a series of six posts leading up to Easter. This time period – often called Lent - can be a time of preparation and observance as we reflect on what Jesus did for us. The beauty of a season like Lent it that it prompts us to be intentional about nurturing our faith. We set aside time…we change our focus…we let some things go…so we can cultivate a greater desire to be led by the Spirit, and to more faithfully follow Jesus, so our lives will be more pleasing to the Father. One way to cultivate a greater desire to follow Jesus is by choosing to abstain from (or limit our use of) something we enjoy. We deny ourselves and, in response, we give ourselves greater freedom to focus more on God. The most common way we do this is by fasting from food. However, I think there are many ways we can “fast”, so I’ve attached a list of suggestions for you to consider. Unfortunately, as should be obvious, our culture is addicted to consumption ...