MATTHEW 6:16-18.
The days of Lent are marked as a time of faithful meditation, fasting, and repentance. It begins from Ash Wednesday. With Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection in full view, observers focus on waging war against their human desires that may be contrary to God’s Word and building up themselves in their most holy faith.
Observing Lent may be different for every Christian, though fasting is usually a major factor. Some choose to fast in the traditional way, giving up a meal or certain types of foods. Others, after evaluating their lifestyle, determine to give up luxuries in order to focus more on their walk with our Heavenly Father, such as turning off the television or radio for Lent or cutting back on their sleep to devote more time to prayer and Scripture reading.
The options are endless. The important thing is to be obedient to the move of the Holy Spirit and follow through on exercising self-control in the area God is touching His finger on in our lives. Whatever we decide to give up, we must ensure we are in line with what the Bible says about fasting. In the book of Matthew, we are encouraged to fast in “secret”. We should not make a show of it. It is not the notice to men that makes the observance of Lent effective. It is the heart with which we get engaged in it.
