AI tells us that “Lent is a 40-day, solemn Christian season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (charity) that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends before Easter.” At history.com you will find that it started the first centuries after Christ’s death and resurrection. “…the earliest Christians seem to have practiced fasting in preparation for Easter, even if it was for just one or two days.”
“After the legalization of Christianity in A.D. 313, the practice of Lent gradually became more established.” This began the 40-day period of Easter preparation focused on prayer and fasting. The number 40 is significant biblically in these instances: “During Noah’s flood, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights; Moses remained on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights preparing to receive the Ten Commandments; and Elijah walked for the same amount of time to reach the mountain of God.” The Hebrews also wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. And of course we remember the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness for 40 day and 40 nights.
“In 601, Pope Gregory I moved the start of Lent to 46 days before Easter, allowing for 40 day of fasting plus six Sundays, the traditional feast day, when the rules of fasting did not apply. The Lenten season still spans 46 days today.”
Gregory (590-604) also established the tradition of Ash Wednesday, including the foundations of the now-common practice of marking parishioners’ foreheads with ashes in the shape of a cross. Like the number 40, ashes have roots in ancient Christian traditions. Several figures in the OLD Testament, including Mordecai, Job and Daniel, marked themselves with ashes and wore sackcloth as a sign of their repentance before God.” (history.com “What is Lent?”)
This year, Lent began on Ash Wednesday, February 18 and will end on April 2, 2026. Easter is Sunday, April 5, 2026.
In churches and Bible studies you hear of people practicing fasting/abstaining from things like a food, a drink, chocolate, TV, social media, movies, books, and other things. They are giving up something they feel great desire for as they focus on Jesus and His death on the cross, for 40 days.
I did not intend to participate this year, but my son was an inspiration when he recently went cold turkey off of coffee. I have never fathomed giving up coffee.
NOT EVER!
It smells amazing. It gets you started in the morning. It revives you in the middle of the day. It’s so warm on these cold days.
I run to it for comfort.
As I thought about it, I realized, my sleep patterns are messed up because I abuse coffee. I should be running to God for comfort. And when you have the idea you would never ever give up something—that is the exact thing you should give up.
And so I started late for Lent, but I’ve not had coffee for two days. And, I plan to not return to coffee after Lent is over.
I’ll keep you posted if I can do it. I’m trusting God and depending on Him for strength, energy, comfort, and better health and sleep.
“…for He grants sleep to those He loves.” Psalm 127:2 (NIV)
I like this thought from Got Questions: “Though not a biblical command, Lent is a meaningful tradition meant to humble us before God and remind us of our need for Him.”
Are you giving up anything for Lent this year?