7 Must-Read Bible Verses for 40 Days of Lent

By Ligonberry Fields, BuzzVine Contributor
A woman receives ashes in observance of Ash Wednesday from clergy of the Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church at Union Square in New York, March 5, 2014. Christians celebrated Ash Wednesday, which serves as a reminder that 'as a man is dust, so unto dust he shall return' and marked the beginning of a 40-day period of Lent in the Roman Catholic calendar.
A woman receives ashes in observance of Ash Wednesday from clergy of the Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church at Union Square in New York, March 5, 2014. Christians celebrated Ash Wednesday, which serves as a reminder that "as a man is dust, so unto dust he shall return" and marked the beginning of a 40-day period of Lent in the Roman Catholic calendar. | (Photo: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)

Every year, Christians around the world and in many different denominations observe the liturgical season of Lent.

Lent falls between Ash Wednesday and East Sunday and is a period of 40 days plus Sundays wherein many Christians, especially Roman Catholics, give up something as an act of spiritual discipline.

Lent is based off of Jesus' time in the desert, in which for 40 days He fasted and prayed and was tempted by the devil before angels came and tended to Him.

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Here are seven Bible verses commonly associated with Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season.

Joel 2:12-14

"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing — grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.

A Catholic faithful participates in the traditional Ash Wednesday service at the 20 de Julio Church in Bogota, Colombia, February 10, 2016. Wednesday marked the first day of the 40-day period of Lent during which Roman Catholics are called to make some form of sacrifice, usually by fasting for a short period of time.
A Catholic faithful participates in the traditional Ash Wednesday service at the 20 de Julio Church in Bogota, Colombia, February 10, 2016. Wednesday marked the first day of the 40-day period of Lent during which Roman Catholics are called to make some form of sacrifice, usually by fasting for a short period of time. | (Photo: Reuters/John Vizcaino)

Matthew 6:16-18

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Mark 1:13

And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

A woman receives ashes at St. Andrew's church in observance of Ash Wednesday in the Manhattan borough of New York, March 5, 2014. Christians celebrated Ash Wednesday, which serves as a reminder that 'as a man is dust, so unto dust he shall return' and marked the beginning of a 40-day period of Lent in the Roman Catholic calendar.
A woman receives ashes at St. Andrew's church in observance of Ash Wednesday in the Manhattan borough of New York, March 5, 2014. Christians celebrated Ash Wednesday, which serves as a reminder that "as a man is dust, so unto dust he shall return" and marked the beginning of a 40-day period of Lent in the Roman Catholic calendar. | (Photo: Reuters/Carlo Allegri)

Ecclesiastes 3:20

All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Genesis 3:19

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Christians pray in the Basilica of our Lady of Fatima in Cairo in Cairo August 18, 2013.
Christians pray in the Basilica of our Lady of Fatima in Cairo in Cairo August 18, 2013. | REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Catholic priests and nuns arrive for a religious ceremony for late John Garang in New Site village in Southern Sudan August 2, 2005. [Southern Sudanese grieved their former leader John Garang around a simple bed on Tuesday and hoped the peace deal he struck would stick under his successor despite rioting over his death that killed 24 people.]
Catholic priests and nuns arrive for a religious ceremony for late John Garang in New Site village in Southern Sudan August 2, 2005. [Southern Sudanese grieved their former leader John Garang around a simple bed on Tuesday and hoped the peace deal he struck would stick under his successor despite rioting over his death that killed 24 people.] | (Photo: Reuters)

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