The season of Lent has begun for Christians, a time of self-examination and repentance before Easter. Lent gives special focus to the spiritual aspect of our life.

During Lent, it is common for people to give up something they value to seek God more diligently. This act of self-denial, known as fasting, can take many forms, such as abstaining from chocolate, sweets, television, social media, coffee, or other things. Each time a person refrains from indulging in the item they have chosen to fast from, it serves as a reminder of their purpose to seek God.

Have you ever considered how much emphasis we place on removing things from our lives during Lent? Perhaps, instead of focusing only on subtraction, we can also concentrate on addition. For example, if we decide to give up chocolate, it can be a genuine sacrifice. However, if we don’t eat chocolate, it won’t necessarily have a significant impact on our lives. Instead, we could use the temptation of chocolate to remind us to pray for things, such as the current state of the world, the future of our children, mental health, global conflicts, the spread of the Gospel, our political leaders, world hunger, suicide rates, the poor, and those who are often overlooked. By doing this, we would not only be giving up something but also adding PRAYER to our daily routine. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16