Reason for the Season: An Act of Humbling Ourselves

I don't really have any pictures that go along with today's post, but I will attach one that has nothing to do with it and see if I can tie it into what I have to say!


As some of you may know, today is in fact Ash Wednesday and is the first day of the season of Lent which lasts 40 days. This season represents the 40 days that Jesus was fasting in the wilderness.  It is celebrated by Christians all over the world to prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter Sunday.  I have always practiced lent to some extent and always somewhat knew what it meant, or was supposed to mean, but I never truly grasped how I was supposed to be affected by it.  Over the next 40 days many people will be giving up different things as a sacrifice.  Something that will be difficult for them to give up in order to humble themselves before the Lord.  


"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you." 
James 4:10


God made the ultimate sacrifice; the death of His son on the cross.  Usually I give up something like soft drinks or fried food, but as I was thinking about it this year I realized that this wouldn't be too difficult for me and in no way would bring me closer to Christ.  Therefore, giving up something like that, for me, would defeat the purpose and I would completely miss the point of these next 40 days.  I have spent hours upon hours toiling over what to give up this year and it hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday after I had prayed about it and I knew exactly what I needed to give up. 


This year for Lent, I am giving up negativity.  Now I know you're thinking, "How in the world do you give up negativity?"  Well, its not going to be easy, but I believe that giving up a negative attitude is what is best for my spiritual growth over the next 40 days and in no way will it be easy.  It will be an addition to my daily walk and will keep me on my toes.  This idea came about the other day when something went wrong and all I could do was be negative about it.  I am always finding myself looking at the glass half empty instead of looking at it as a glass sitting next to the pitcher of water (or whatever your optimistic/pessimistic glass is filled with) that God is holding.  I read a verse recently that most of us know:


"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24


This really got me to thinking.  How many times a week or a day does something not go the way that we plan it and it puts us in an almost irreversible sour mood.  Why not look at these situations as opportunities instead of impossible obstacles.  Under the category of negativity, for me, comes lack of faith and a heavy dose of worry and fear.  Why? I know they aren't the same thing, but when I really thought about it, my occasional lack of faith/trust and fear/worry usually is the source of my negativity.  That being said, I have found that this is something I struggle with very much and that one thing that I just can't seem to let go of.  So for Lent this year, I am giving up negativity in the hopes that this will be the one sacrifice that will truly bring me closer to Christ and strengthen my walk with Him.  


James 1:2-3 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."
Proverbs 17:22 says, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."


These verses really struck me when I was reading them on Monday night.  It was the first step in making my decision to give up negativity.  I hope that in these next 40 days I will be able to hold true to my sacrifice.  It will definitely be a challenge for me, but I do know that with persistence and complete faith in Christ I will be able to start seeing life through brand new eyes.  I'm in no way feeling like I've bitten off more than I can chew, but instead feel like I am making a decision that will affect me for more than the next 40 days...a learning and growing experience.  

This picture reminds me of just how awesome our God really is and that if we look very carefully, He has placed such beauty and wonder in front of us.  We just need to take the time to look around for it and truly appreciate His goodness...its right before our eyes. :)