What does Lent mean to you?

Question

Some people give up something during Lent to show their dedication to God. I will sacrifice chocolate and/or caffeine.
My devotion to the Lord is why I will do this. Giving up a questionable television show or habit may be best for you. Discipline is fun to develop when it frees up time to think about how good God is. In a small measure, we represent Christ when we make little sacrifices.

Whoever gave me stars, you made my day. I wish people knew how worthwhile it is to know salvation.

Answer 1

Lent is the annual reminder that Jesus not only died for us, but he spent over 33 years on earth preparing to redeem us, living in a putrid backwater of the world, which the Israel of the time surely was, when he could have just as well stayed comfortably enthroned in heaven.

If God can spend 33 straight years sacrificing for us, even giving up his very life, than I can show my appreciation for his great work by spending a few days a year attempting to unite my meager sacrifices and good works with his.

Lent is a Catholic tradition ... and a great one, at that.

Answer 2

What Does Lent Mean

Answer 3

As a Catholic, yes, I will probably choose a Lenten discipline (the traditional concept of giving up something). However, I heard an interesting approach a few years ago that was helpful. Instead of giving up some trifling thing you like (such as candy), why not give up a really destructive habit or personal trait, instead? Instead of resolving not to eat jellybeans, wouldn't it mean more to try curbing impatience or jealousy, instead? Just a thought.

Lent, to me, is a very special time. I ponder how terribly far away from God I've gotten, but also upon the wondrous grace that continues to call me back to Him.

Answer 4

Lent is a time of reflection and sacrifice that lasts forty days. From Ash Wednesday to Good Friday (technically Holy Thursday, but then we fast on Good Friday so it does last that long to most).

Anyway, I do it for pretty much the same reasons you said. It's a time to reflect and sacrifice something that we usually do/have on a regular basis. It's not supposed to be something easy and so, for me, it never is. Last year I gave up sugar in general (excluding foods that have natural sugar in them) and this year it'll most likely be chewing my finger nails as well as something else like soda. (my nails are horrible, I can't stop chewing them so this will be a major challenge for me.)

But for me, Lent is a chance to show my appreciation for the sacrifice Jesus has given us (his death) by sacrificing something of my own, even if in can never be near the magnitude of his own sacrifice.

Answer 5

it means absolutely nothing to me. Except laughing at people who complain the entire time at having to give up something they like only to go right back to it's clutches after lent is over, Ooooh what a big difference that made in the world. Woo....

Answer 6

Lent means nothing to me other than longer hours at work on Fridays because I am the head cook at a seafood restaurant.

Answer 7

It's a time of great spiritual liberation, actually - I learn each year what things I can do without - and how I can fill my hours with more constructive things (reading, prayer, service)...

I love Lent. I love Holy Week.

Answer 8

Lent doesn't always mean you have to give up something to remember Christ. We are also taught that we can a do a little more to help those around us during this time of rememberance.

Instead of focusing on only ourselves, we can focus on those around us, in rememberance of what Christ did for all of us.

Answer 9

Why give it up for lent? If it isn't healthy, give it up forever.

Lent is a Catholic tradition. Nothing about temporary sacrifice in the bible.

Answer 10

During Lent I give up something I really like so I can suffer with Christ on his road to the cross