Ash Wednesday: Is God Inviting You to Add or Subtract?
In the last week my thoughts have turned towards today, Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of the Easter season.
As I prayed and sought the Lord’s guidance on what resources I could share with you, I kept sensing that this might not be a season to add something new, but rather a season to divinely subtract. Instead of offering you another resource to incorporate into your life with Jesus, I felt a strong leading to encourage you to create space—clearing away distractions so you can encounter Him more deeply.
In many faith traditions, Lent (the 40-day period that starts with Ash Wednesday and ends on Good Friday, leading us towards Easter) is a time to fast where Christians give up certain foods to remind them to turn their eyes more fully on Jesus. Though I’m not necessarily talking about giving up foods, this would be a little bit like that.
Fasting is subtracting things so that you can feast on God.
To do this, two questions kept coming to my Spirit as I thought about our journey towards Easter:
Where has my spiritual or physical life gotten more complicated than it needs to be?
What things might God be leading me to subtract during this season so I can focus on Him and the things He would say are most important?
Whether He is inviting you to add a special Easter devotional to grow in your relationship with Him or subtract things where your life has gotten too complicated, we can thank God for Ash Wednesday.
It’s a beautiful reminder on the Church calendar to focus on our Savior and that Easter is just ahead!
~ Lori