You can’t spell “Valentine” without “Lent!”
This year, Lent began on Valentine’s Day. This has significant meaning. The Word “Lent” is in the word “Valentine.” Jesus is intentional in His love for you.
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, and Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. This year, Lent began on Valentine’s Day. This has significant meaning. The Word “Lent” is in the word “Valentine.” Jesus is intentional in His love for you.
I encourage you to be intentional with your Lenten practice this year. The Lenten season reminds us of the end of lives, and how we are destined for eternal life with He who is Love Himself.
A woman flourishes when she is loved correctly. When you see a woman in a happy and healthy relationship she glows and has a noticeable “pep in her step.” People will tell her how happy she looks, and how radiant she is. Now, think of how you will flourish when you allow yourself to be loved by He who is Love! So often we put up roadblocks not allowing The Lord to love us in the way that He desires.
Lenten practices can often become like a “challenge” seeing how long you can go without something such as dessert or your favorite bag of chips. In hindsight, if the end goal of our lives is to have eternal communion with God, it would be more beneficial to give up that which hinders The Lord from loving us in fullness, rather than something trivial like a snack.
Think of it relationally. Imagine you are in a relationship with someone, and you say “You know what, for forty days I’m not going to eat chocolate, and then I’m going to go right back to eating chocolate again once these forty days are over, and this is somehow going to improve our relationship so much!” Sounds a bit strange when you put it that way, eh? Sure, God accepts a contrite and heartfelt sacrifice that we make, but often times giving up a sweet or a favorite snack lacks the sentiment of having an intimate relationship with The Lord. Thus the Lenten sacrifice becomes more about how long you can go without something, as opposed to entering into a deeper relationship and communion with God.
What The Lord truly wants is our love and to love us. Lent beginning on Valentine’s Day reminds us that the goal of our lives is to love and be loved by He who is love.
Yes, it is necessary to fast. Yes, we are not to eat meat on Fridays. But remember to fast with intention, not with a “challenge” mentality. Scripture says that some demons can only be rid by prayer & fasting. (Matthew 17:21) The notion of “ridding demons” is an intentional cause of fasting. The notion of not eating meat on Fridays and offering it as a sacrifice; which calls to mind the ultimate sacrifice of Christ is an intentional cause of fasting.
Make sure whatever you do this Lent, that there is the proper and significant intention behind it. Don’t just do whatever for the sake of it - Jesus is looking at your heart and intentionality.
“I am the Lord who search the heart and prove the reins: who give to everyone according to his way, and according to the fruit of his devices.“ - Jeremiah -17:10
It would be beneficial this Lent to give up anything that is impeding you from allowing yourself to be loved by The Lord in the full capacity He has to offer you. The power of Eternal Love lives within you, what is holding you back from experiencing the total transformation that is made available to you?
Lent isn’t only about “giving up” but also “adding on” anything that would better your relationship with God. The best thing to do is to simply ask The Lord, “What would you like me to do for Lent?” And let Him tell you what would be most beneficial for you Himself.
I encourage you this Lenten season to dive deeper into love. After all aren’t we only able to love, because He has loved us first? ( 1 John 4:19) Remember, you can’t spell “Valentine” without “Lent.”
Serviam
February 15th is The Feast Day of Saint Claude de la Colombiere
“May the Heart of Jesus Christ be our school! Let us make our abode there. Let us study its movements and attempt to conform ours to them. Yes, O Divine Jesus, I want to live there.” - Saint Claude de la Colombiere
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