Being raised Catholic meant 40 days in which you must "give up" something. To make some sort of a sacrifice in order to help you grow in faith. As you grow older, giving up chocolate or soda for Lent just doesn't make much sense anymore. It almost loses its meaning.
If you are going to give something up, you are the kind of person who wants it to mean something. You want to grow throughout this season. So, here is a list of meaningful things to give up this Lent.
1. Doubt
Believe God has a plan for you that is beyond anything you could imagine. The future is brighter than you could ever realize. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.'" ~ Jeremiah 29:11
2. Excuses
2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us that we will all be brought in front of the Lord on judgment day and there will be no excuses. What is good is good and what is bad is bad. Don't make excuses for yourself around every corner.
3. Worry
"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:6
4. Fear
The phrase, "Do not be afraid" appears in the Bible 365 times. I do not think that it a coincidence. God tells us to fear not every single day because he is with us every single day. "If my God is with me, whom then shall I fear?"
5. Envy
Envy and jealousy are longings only for worldly things. If you remember that you are on this Earth for such a short time, those worldly things won't hold so much power over you. "And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." ~ Ecclesiastes 4:4
6. Blame
Romans 2:1 states: "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things."
7. Gossip
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." ~ Ephesians 4:29
8. Pride
"Blessed are the humble, for they shall inherit the earth. Rejoice and be glad, yours is the kingdom of God." ~Matthew 5:5
9. Impatience
God's timing is the perfect timing. "Don't mistake God's patience for His absence. His timing is perfect, and His presence is constant. He's always with you." ~ Deuteronomy 31:6
Make this Lent a time for growth and a time to get closer to God. This list isn't as long as it could be but it might get you thinking about even more meaningful things you could give up for Lent.
