What Can Christians Give Up for Lent 2017?
Lenten season is coming, and with it, the tradition of austerity, abstinence and reflection. What is the meaning of this tradition? The observance of Lent is not explicitly written in the Bible, and the Christian knows that grace is not earned by fasting or prayer — it is a gift that comes from faith.
Traditions like Lent are a reminder to pause a bit from the daily routine to focus on something aside from work, family and the daily grind. Just like the traditions of Easter, Christmas and All Saints' Day, the practices during Lent present an opportunity for a lot of things — a change of pace, a chance to bond with others and a time to reconnect on a personal level with God.
Food and Drink
Most believers, upon hearing the word Lent, will immediately think of fasting and abstinence. Many Christians would simply eat less than usual, while some would go as far as dropping meat, pastries and desserts from their daily menu altogether. For the younger ones, some might swear off chocolates, sweets and fizzy drinks for a little while.
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A very common practice is giving up alcohol — no beer, wine or even mixes.
The Catholic Church may prescribe abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.
Luxury and Recreation
For the Lenten season, many Christians could choose to forgo some of the activities that they look forward to. Some may abstain from taking a vacation during this time. Many believers might choose to give up a few staples of modern life — social media, TV series, video games and the internet.
During this time of contemplation, some practitioners may adopt simpler clothes with only the necessities when it comes to accessories. Makeup, salon appointments and jewelry can be given up for a while as well.
Habits
Lenten season is a very good opportunity to let go of some habits that one may have acquired during the year. Most Christians could take the chance to work on getting rid of a few unhealthy or bad practices, whether it be being chronically late, engaging in gossip, or maybe some out-of-control spending.
On the flip side, many believers can also grab the opportunity to start picking up a few challenging habits — listening more to people, taking the stairs, or cleaning the house — to name a few.
A Portion of Time and Energy
While some believers think of the Lenten sacrifice as having less, some can take it to mean doing more. Many Christians can set aside time and energy to attend church, read the Bible or say an extra prayer every day. Some might take it farther and do volunteer work for a charitable cause, or help take care of the sick and needy in their own way.
As Lent comes around, Christians all over are blessed with an opportunity to do something different for 40 days. Come Easter time, those who stuck with it would be glad they did, for the chance to grow in faith and the boost in self-confidence gained from mastering the self.
