DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
Social Networks Top Lent List
© NaimaLett.com/blog

source © OpenBible.info, Lent’s Wordle

Times have changed.

Lent begins today. And according to OpenBible.info, social media giants Twitter and Facebook have topped the list of “100 Things Given Up for Lent” by Twitterers for the past 4 years.

This year’s list is still being compiled and will be available Feb 16th; but currently trending with giving up social networking are “swearing” and “being pope”. Somebody has a sense of humor. :=)

Remember when?
Remember when folks gave up meat and dairy for Lent?

As I blogged yesterday in Mardi Gras: A Christian Holiday?, Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, which got its name because Christians would consume all the remaining meat and dairy in their homes on that Tuesday before Ash Wednesday kicked off the Lenten season.

By those standards, yesterday could’ve been a massive TwitterFest or Facebook Mania for networkers posting their last comments before taking a 6-week break through Easter.

Why?
Why are folks fasting social networking? To answer that, let’s review why folks fast at all during Lent. Actually, let’s back it all the way up to the meaning of Lent. Review:

What is Lent?
Lent is the 40-day season (46 days minus Sundays) that believers prepare for Easter through fasting, prayer, repentance, giving up luxuries, and giving alms. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (today) and ends the day before Easter.

The 40 day time frame symbolizes the 40 days in the wilderness, testing and temptation that Jesus endured before launching into his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). Our friend, Pastor Andy McQuitty at Irving Bible called Lent a time of “spring cleaning of the soul”.

Why do we STILL practice Lent in 2013?
Because our global family of faith looks forward to THE Celebration of all Celebrations culminating at the end of Lent: Easter/Resurrection Sunday! Easter is arguably the most important holiday on our calendar. Our entire faith is based on that resurrection that resulted in that Empty Tomb!

Why Not?
That’s the question I like to ask.
Why not break outside the norm and walk on the wild side of faith for 40 days?
I have learned over the years that there is no greater adventure than attempting to sacrifice an “essential” in order to grow closer to the One who is Essential. 40 days of giving up anything ain’t easy. Thank God we don’t have to rely on our own strength and fortitude. We can ask for His help. And the rewarding transformation that occurs is so worth it.

So, what do we do?
Some of our Catholic brothers and sisters don ash crosses on the forehead to symbolize Ash Wednesday and the tradition of repentance in ashes and sackcloth. Symbols are wonderful; though not required.

So here are some simple steps to prepare:

1) Decide
Decide whether or not to participate. Pray and ask, ‘Do I want to make this commitment?” This might seem elementary, but every journey starts with a solid decision to take the first step.

2) Release
If the answer is “Yes”, then decide one thing to release over the next 40 days.

Some are giving up social networking. Others go the traditional route and give up meat and dairy. If you’re a vegetarian, like I am, or vegan, like some of my friends, giving up meat or dairy isn’t really a sacrifice. So, maybe it’s a favorite food or sweets or a particular TV show or hobby. Whatever it is, it works best if it’s something that affects our life daily. Why? Because when we yearn for it daily, we’re reminded why we are fasting and reminded to pray.

3) Replace
Replace what you’re releasing with avenues that lead closer to God. In the scriptures, people fasted and prayed for many different reasons i.e. entreating the Lord’s help and intervention, breaking yokes, seeking the Lord’s face and presence, repentance and contrition, etc. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that’s been practiced by people of faith for thousands of years, even prior to Jesus. Lent, especially, is a season of reflection and repentance and growing closer to the Lord. If one only gives up Twitter or Facebook, but doesn’t replace social networking with times of pray, reflection, Scripture, praise & worship, meeting others’ needs, etc., then Lent is meaningless. Prayerfully define what you’re asking of God for 40 days.

Reprising My Role as Tour Guide
Just as I promised last year, (can you believe we’ve been blogging daily for a year now?!), I wouldn’t dare invite you to walk this journey with me without offering help along the way. I assure you that I intimately know my way around 40-day fasts, and I count it an honor to reprise my role as tour guide by way of LaLa Land. I’ll be praying for you and walking with you and growing closer to the Lord, just like you, over the next 40 days.

In the words of Peter, when God used him to heal the lame by the gate called Beautiful, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:1-10.

I can’t promise you silver or gold over the next 40 days. (I actually don’t believe that God shares many of His children’s obsessions with becoming millionaires. I digress…) But what I do have, I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whatever your deepest actual need is, I pray that God will meet you in that space over the next 6 weeks leading up to Easter. I pray that our lives will be eternally transformed as we are drawn into deeper fellowship with our heavenly Father.

What are you giving up?

Feel free to share what you’re sacrificing (here or with someone else), not out of pride and braggadociousness, as the Pharisees of old; but for accountability. 40 days is a bit of a stretch and we can keep each other lifted along the way.

I’m not giving up social media, as that’s not a true sacrifice for me. I’m releasing sugar. Pray for your girl. The first couple of days off sweets can be a little bumpy. LOL!

Lett’s do this,
Naima

What are you giving up?
RESPOND ON BLOG
Comment below, or
Facebook or
Twitter – @naimalett

© 2013 Naima Lett. All Rights Reserved