My Lenten Failure

Lent is one of my favorite times of the year. For those of you who don't know what Lent is, it is the 40 days leading up to Easter.  It's an amazing time because during the Church calendar, this is a very purposeful time. Traditionally people choose to give up something for Lent, like chocolate or soda, for the duration of the 40 days. But there's a new trend to DO something extra for Lent, like extra prayer or service.

I always enter Lent with a goal. One year I'll give up fast food; another, I'll give up all fried food (being from Louisiana, this is VERY difficult), but this year I wanted my Lenten promise to transform me. I wanted to pray and meditate more. I wanted to fast. I wanted to be born again after 40 days of conscientious recommitment to the Lord.

But I feel that this year I have truly failed. I entered Lent feeling empty and now 2 weeks in, I'm still empty.  I've not read my bible. I've barely fasted, and always in the back of my head I'm thinking, "tomorrow I'm going to start." Then tomorrow comes, and I'm distracted with unpacking my house, and cleaning my apartment, and getting over my cold, and planning a baby shower, and worrying about my various church commitments and all the while, I'm running on E.

I'm ready to be on fire again for the Lord. I'm constantly reminded of the early church. The church in Acts and beyond. The people, those green Christians, that transformed the world. Jesus transformed them, but then they through love, generosity, grace, mercy, evangelism, and passion started time over again. The world stopped and began again. A new age. The A.D. era.

Imagine if all Christians today had that same fire for Christ. What kind of era would we usher in?

I need that fire.