MPC LENTEN DEVOTIONS

This Lenten season we have been studying our Lenten devotions AND participating in Lenten challenges.  It’s been a combination of fasting, praying, physical activities and some nutritional changes.  As we typically do during the Lenten season all of this was done with the intention of challenging ourselves in ways that will help us to focus and improve in mind, body and spirit.

Our intention is not that we go through this season and just check off that we have completed these things so that we can boast or brag or just to note that we have fulfilled a particular obligation for the season. No, we intend to reflect during this season on our relationship with God, be intentional about taking the time to hear from him and also participate in challenges that will help us in the long run.

At our recent Play Date challenge, our instructor encouraged us to have fun! Have the mind of a child and enjoy the activities freely.  There was jump rope, footsie game, bubbles, hula hoop slime making and other activities as well as there were those that were enjoying the day and getting in steps by walking laps around the parking lot.  Because we were together and having fun, we didn’t feel like getting this exercise was a chore at all. In fact, we might have not noticed that we were participating in healthy activities which our bodies need. 

In the Bible, God tells us that children are a blessing and a gift (Psalm 127:3)! Their spirits are filled with innocence, joy, and laughter. Jesus actually tells us to be like children and to come to Him full of faith and trust. Sometimes this might be a challenge as we try to think and reason with all of our intellect and what we THINK we know and understand. But truly trusting in God can mean that we put all reasoning aside. As we took time to “Say NO” to things that might distract us from what God has for us we hopefully have made progress in allowing ourselves to operate in faith, hear from God and truly trust that he will guide us in all ways.