Lenten Devotion by Pastor Dave McElwee 

 When looking to the season of Lent, one can look at Joel 2:12-13, which states: 

 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, 
    “return to me with all your heart, 
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 
     and rend your hearts and not your garments.” 
Return to the Lord your God, 
    for he is gracious and merciful, 
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; 
    and he relents over disaster.” 

 If you look back in previous weeks, this passage is one that comes up continually, for good reason, as this passage relates well to this season. 

 Lent is a season of preparation; one of two such seasons in the Christian year, the other being Advent. This season is one where the faithful are called upon to prepare to meet the Resurrected Lord on Easter. Early in the church’s existence, this was also a time when new members would practice the spiritual disciplines as they prepared to be baptized at dawn on Easter. 

 All too often today we are tempted to use this season as a means of kicking a bad habit. We talk about what we are giving up for Lent, often then indulging on Easter. I am guilty of doing that very thing when I would give up donuts for Lent, only to over indulge on Easter morning. 

 The reason for giving something up is meant to help us grow closer to God. As the prophet Joel noted, the reason for the fasting, weeping, mourning, and the rending of hearts and clothing was to draw closer to God. The giving up of something is meant to free us to draw closer to God. This idea is why some would take on a new spiritual practice instead of giving something up.  

 At this point, we can see that Easter is coming. Now is a time to intentionally draw near to God. Take the time, either through refraining from something or taking something new on and seek God. As the prophet said, return to the Lord your God. For though we do not deserve it, God is reaching out to us and gives us hope through the suffering, death, and ultimate Resurrection of Christ.