Intro Video:
Did you know that 40 is an important number in the Bible?
Think of all the stories that talk about 40 days or 40 years…
- In Noah’s ark, it rained for 40 days.
- In the Exodus, God’s people wandered the wilderness for 40 years.
- Before his public ministry, Jesus went into the desert to pray for 40 days.
Do you notice something similar about all these stories?
The time period of 40 was hard.
It was a time of trial, a time away from life’s comforts, a time of complete dependence on God.
But God was faithful to take care of his people through each of these trials, and they each led to something new and wonderful–a fulfilled promise!
We have seasons like this too, and in the church year calendar (or liturgical calendar) we mark a period of 40 days when we remember Jesus’ trials in the desert, and his suffering on the cross, and we remind ourselves of our complete dependence on God.
This season is called Lent.
Lent is a serious time of reflection and confession, of prayer and fasting. (See post about fasting here!) Ultimately, Lent is about turning back to God, recognizing our need for him, and preparing ourselves to receive his good promises.
And after Lent?
After Lent comes a big celebration! The ultimate fulfilled promise of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead!
Don’t you think celebrations are all the better when we’re really prepared for them? How are you going to prepare this Lent?
We’ll post videos of different spiritual practices you can try each week, to help you turn to God and remember his faithfulness. I hope you’ll join us!