It’s Ash Wednesday, and today, we enter into a period of preparing, reflecting, and sacrificing known as Lent. Typically, folks try to fast from something, e.g. meat, sodas, chocolate, TV, or even something like sex. The idea is to stop doing something in order to open ourselves more to God’s goodness and mercy. We fast from something so we can feast in the presence of God.
We understand the principle in our lives. We do it every day. We organize our tasks, schedule our meetings, or list our phone calls – all to ”get things done.” We recognize that when we say, “Yes,” to something, we say “No,” to something else. So, we understand how this idea works.
Problem is, we don’t always apply this to our spiritual lives. We’re not always as willing to say, “No,” to some things so we can say, “Yes,” to God’s presence in our lives. We’ll make excuses, “I’ll do that later,” or “I don’t have time,” or “God understands.” Truth is, we make time in our lives for the things that really matter to us.
Lent is the Mulligan Time
Lent offers us a time of the mulligan or the do-over. It’s a time to reset our lives, not according to the urgency of our schedules, but according to the importance our spiritual lives. God is a God of mercy, and all we have to do is come to him, and he will receive us – no matter where we’ve been. We can start fresh and new in rethinking and reprioritizing our spiritual lives.
Of course, it’s much more easily said than done. And, like most things in our lives, it takes some energy, effort, and focus.
The Ten Minute Reset
So, take ten minutes today to consider something you’d like to say, “No,” to in order to say, “Yes,” to some time with God. After you’ve spent a few minutes thinking about what you’d like to stop, then think about what you can start to grow in your relationship with God. Then, practice that thing every day until Easter, but just for ten minutes. I’ll just bet something happens to you.
What can I do for ten minutes?
- Pray for the folks in your life – family, friends, and colleagues.
- Read one chapter of the Bible each day.
- Call one person per day that you’ve missed, neglected, or just haven’t seen in a while.
- Write a thank you note to someone each day telling them how they’ve encouraged, helped, or blessed you.
- Learn a new song that helps you praise God.
- Make a list of your blessings, just a few every day, and thank God for what you’ve received.
- Send an encouraging or inspiring text message, Facebook message, Tweet, or post to your favorite social site.
- Find some way to give something – cleaning out your closet or buying someone’s coffee or lunch.
- Call the people by name who serve you in restaurants, stores, or gas stations, and thank them for working or encourage them to have a great day.
- Tell someone you’re sorry for some mistake made or words spoken.
Maybe this list will help you get to a better place in your life. Maybe you’ll make the difference in someone else’s life. Thing is, there are so many ways we can take some time to grow spiritually, but it starts with a simple commitment to ten minutes. Just ten minutes.
I “triple-dog dare you” to try the ten minute mulligan.
Take the fire with you as you journey through this life.
Explore the text for this post: Isaiah 61.1-4.
Photo Credit: “Prayer Vitral” from Sammis Reachers (Creative Commons).
Filed under: Challenging, Confessing, Journeying Tagged: Ash Wednesday, better life, Bible, Lent, mercy, prayer, spiritual lives
