Observing Lent Canon Paul Hardingham considers the spiritual disciplines This month sees the start of Lent, the 40-day season of penitence, self-examination and fasting running up to Easter. Jesus began His earthly ministry by fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and taught His disciples to fast: ‘when you fast.’ (Matthew 6:17). The spiritual discipline of fasting involves missing one or two meals during the day, refraining from TV, alcohol or social media, and identifying the things that get in the way of our focus on God. What are the benefits of fasting? The act of giving something up expresses my desire to put God first in my life. It shows me the things that I depend on rather than God, so that I can surrender ‘my idols’ to Him. It encourages me to have a deeper hunger and dependency for God. It gives me space to focus on God for His strength, provision, and wisdom resulting in a more intimate relationship with Christ: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled’. (Matthew 5:6). Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal my true spiritual condition, leading to brokenness and repentance, and a transformed life along with heart that is more attentive and dependent on God. Lent can also be a time to embrace new spiritual disciplines, eg: joining a study group, ‘random acts of kindness’, giving more time to prayer and Bible study or solitude, and reading a Lent book. Whatever you do, make Lent count this year! ‘Jesus takes it for granted that His disciples will observe the pious custom of fasting. Strict exercise of self-control is an essential feature of the Christian’s life. Such customs have only one purpose – to make the disciples more ready and cheerful to accomplish those things which God would have done.’ (Dietrich Bonhoeffer). 4
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