Prayers for Lent

What is Lent?

A Journey of Prayer for Lent 

What is Lent? 

Many of us think of Lent as a period in the Christian calendar when ‘we give something up’ for a time with no real understanding of why we do this.

 

Lent is traditionally the 40 day period of fasting leading up to Easter, recalling Jesus’ 40 day fast in the wilderness, (Matthew 4.1-11). Western Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which this year falls on 21 February and ends on Saturday 7 April. Sundays are not included in the fast. The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence (repentance) and simplicity. We can use it as a time for spiritual spring cleaning, a time for taking a spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus and our service to him, so when we give things up for Lent we are in fact embracing a form of fasting.

 

We might choose to give up tea or coffee, chocolate or alcohol, but we might also choose to give up things like - gossiping, watching too much TV. Lent can be a spiritual training time, a time to instil good spiritual disciplines, a time to develop or strengthen our prayer life.

 

The theme of our Sunday services over Lent will be prayer and we would like to invite you to participate in joining us in prayer using the prayers we will post on the website each day. We also welcome your comments on any of the issues raised in these prayers or to hear your thoughts on Lent.

 

Wed 21 February

 Living God

we thank you for this day you have given us

a day that reminds us of your mercy, your forgiveness

your offer of a new beginning for all who truly seek it.

Search us ,O God,

and lead us in hte way of life eternal

 We thank you for this time you have given us,

this season of Lent which reminds us

of the need for prayer and reflection,

discipline and self-examination.

Search us, O God,

and lead us in the way of life eternal.

 We thank you for all this season leads towards,

the days of Holy Week and Easter

which remind us of your great love shown in Christ,

and your great victory won through him

Search us, O God,

and lead us in the way of life eternal

 Living God, help us to use this day wisely and this season fully

so that our faith may be deepened, our horizons stretched

and our love for you increased

Search us O God,

and lead us in the way of life eternal

 Cleanse us of all that is wrong

put a new heart and a right spirit within us,

and so preprare us to rejoice again at the wonder of your love

Search us, O God,

and lead us in the way of eternal life, for in his name we pray.

Amen   (Nick Fawcett)