Today, March 1st, is the start of Lent! 40 days that we make a commitment to cut out the unhealthy and ungodly things in our lives, and replace them with ways to seek and honor God's presence. The last few days I have been praying and seeking what I need to fast. Early this morning it became clear to me what I should do for these forty days. My largest struggles in general are glutton and finances.
I love food! I love it too much! I struggle with self control; I eat too much and don't pay attention to what I'm eating. So, I am going to basically start with a Daniel Fast and work backwards to what else I can have. For instance, I am going to allow meat and my diet coke for starters.
Last Thursday I started Financial Peace University for the second time. Two things stood out to me in that first video. 1) Do I control my money or does it control me? 2) Dave Ramsey told the story that someone came to him and said that by they time they get to the end of their budget they have no money left to tithe, and Dave said to him that he had his budget upside down. I feel like my money controls me. Don't get me wrong, I am implementing FPU and huge changes have happened in our lives. But I still feel like I'm living around our finances and it sucks. Then, when he Dave told the guy he had his budget upside down I had shell shock. This morning I just knew in my heart that God is asking me to trust Him with my money! I have been making steps, but this morning I committed to tithe 10% for the duration of Lent. I know, it's only four Sundays but I have to start somewhere.
I also set an alarm on my phone and pulled out a fresh journal that I will make purposeful, dedicated time to journal with God every day! I am excited about this! Two weeks ago I found my journal that I started after I was baptized full of my new spiritual discoveries and realizations. I missed that. I am going back to giving my hand to God. I am amazed at what he does with my open heart and a pen in my hand.
Tonight I also did something new:
I attended my first Ash Wednesday service!
All things God always come full circle and this service finished what started this morning. Ash Wednesday kicks off the start of Lent, yes. Lent though is a 40 day walk with Christ. A walk that asks us to examine the sin we've accumulated in our lives. The whole purpose Christ went to the cross was to pay for our sins. We are to live as joyous, redeemed Christians, but we should take this time each year to truly examine what sin crept in to our habits/lives. I had yet to realize that depth of Lent. It is the time to realize what Christ died for.
I felt harsh on myself this morning for using the term glutton, but in light of tonight's service I needed to take that serious step back and look at what has crept in.
