Thursday, February 26, 2009

Lent -- a Time of Seeking God's Face

It is the time of Lent. a time of preparation for the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent began on 25 February 2009 and ends on 11 April 2009, which is the day before Easter.

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. Some focus in by giving certain things up for Lent. Others focus in by doing special devotions and Bible reading and by attending special services of the season.

May we soak up Biblical teaching and find a passionate witness to bring people to Christ, and to challenge the church of Christ to holiness of heart and purpose of life; to a Spirit-filled walk with God; to a brokenness of heart in humble earnest and believing prayer for God to pour out His Spirit in true revival power.

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