By Christianity.com | Created at 2025-03-06 06:21:20 | Updated at 2025-03-06 13:17:35
8 hours ago
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday—and runs for forty days, excluding Sundays, until a few days before Easter, on Holy (Maundy) Thursday. A time of deep reflection, repentance and self-examination, Lent is a wonderful opportunity for Christians to undertake fresh spiritual growth in a way that honors God and reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made when he willingly died for us all on the cross.
Lent isn’t something I grew up observing, but when I learned about it as an adult, I was excited about the opportunity to take on a personal spiritual pilgrimage of sorts, journeying deeper in my faith and understanding anew what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. For as I’ve learned in my own Christian walk, faith and growth look different for everyone, and what works or is necessary for me isn’t always what will work for someone else.
Sometimes, people “give up” things for Lent. Typically, these are bad habits or vices they struggle with. For instance, someone might give up junk food or alcohol for Lent. I’ve had friends who do social media fasts or go without their phones or watching television.
Other people “take on” things for Lent. Typically, these are new practices and disciplines that help them grow closer to Jesus or learn something new and important about their faith. For instance, someone might begin a daily prayer journaling habit, an exercise program, or a fast. Another person might do a daily devotional or Bible study.
There’s no “one right way” to observe Lent, for preparing our hearts and minds for Easter, which is different for everyone.
If you’re having trouble deciding what you want to do to observe Lent this year, I’ve put together a collection of ideas. Here, then, are 18 ways to honor God this Lenten season.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Jasmin Ne
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1. Read the Bible Daily
This idea is dear to my heart because it made such a difference in my own life. More than a decade ago, I decided my Lenten practice would be to read a chapter of the Bible every single day. It was so transformative that it’s turned into a practice I still do today. I’m still a daily Bible reader, and if I ever skip a day, I feel “off.” I genuinely miss it. It’s helped me draw closer to God, know him better, and become a devoted Bible student. I started with the Gospels, read to the end of Revelation, then started over at Genesis, reading all the way through again. I just keep going. At times, I’ll do a different Bible translation to keep me on my toes. Try it and see how it changes you! As Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (NIV). I’ve definitely found this to be true.
2. Do a Daily Devotional
There are hundreds of excellent daily devotionals available. Some help you grow in a certain area, such as praying for your spouse, or finding peace, while others are more general or focus directly on Lent. Daily devotionals tend to be short and can be an easy but incredibly helpful way to grow spiritually.
3. Pray Every Morning
Some people have a set pattern of praying every morning, or every night before bed, and all day long, too. Other people pray more sporadically. If that’s you, consider a new practice during Lent to start your day off right: morning prayers. Wake up a bit earlier than normal and go sit alone in the quiet. Talk to him and tell him what’s on your heart, and listen for what he has to say to you.
4. Write Your Prayers Down
If you’re already in the habit of strong daily prayer, consider changing up your routine a bit and actually write down your prayers. You can buy a special book or just grab a spiral notebook from the dollar store. Don’t just write down things you want God to do for you—spend some time praising him, reflecting on ways you need to grow, praying for other people, etc.
5. Do a Bible Study
Many of us do Bible studies with a group in Sunday school, but consider doing a solo study, or a study with your spouse, your children, or a close friend. There are some six- or seven-week studies that have daily activities or lessons, making it perfect to do during the 40-day season of Lent.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Kamil Szumotalski
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6. Prayer Walk
Maybe you’ve been wanting to start a new walking regimen, but you just can’t find the motivation. Try pairing it with prayer and turn it into a Lenten practice. Make yourself get up every day and walk for a period of time. Instead of listening to music or an audiobook, spend your time talking with God. You’ll get in shape physically and spiritually.
7. Lift-and-Pray
In the same vein, consider praying while lifting weights. Strength training is good for our bones and our muscles. Consider meditative lifting while you pray. One technique is to use breath prayers—short, simple godly phrases you repeat—as you lift. For example, you can say “My soul (inhale as you lift your weight up) glorifies the Lord (exhale as you lower the weight).” Repeat.
8. Fast
Fasting isn’t for everyone, but it might be good for you. Fasting is when you abstain from food for a period of time as a way to develop self-denial or humility, as well as to provide mental clarity and insight by reducing distractions and allowing for deeper reflection. You don’t need to fast all day—you can fast until noon, or fast from certain food items.
9. Abstain from Alcohol, Junk Food, or Another Habit That’s Hurting Your Body
Do you know you’ve been drinking or eating in a way that’s not honoring your body? Consider abstaining from harmful food or drink during Lent, both as a form of self-denial and as a gift of health to the temple of the Holy Spirit—your body.
10. Start a Gratitude Journal
Instead of a prayer journal, cultivate an attitude of gratitude with a gratitude journal. Every day, write down one or more things you are grateful for today. Have some fun and write down trivial things, too.
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11. Take (and Post) Gratitude Photos
Are you more of a visual person? Every day, take a photo of something or someone that makes you grateful. Bonus: Post it on social media and share it with others, perhaps inspiring them to do the same.
12. Watch The Chosen or Another Christian Series as a Group
My oldest child, our son, went to college this year, so my daughter, husband, and I have been trying to adopt new family routines. One of them is trying to watch a TV show together every evening before bed. This year for Lent, we decided we’re all going to watch The Chosen together every night. Not all of us have seen it, and we figured it’ll cultivate family time while simultaneously helping us reflect on Jesus’s earthly ministry and what it means to be a genuine disciple.
13. Random Acts of Kindness
This one’s fun, especially if you try to throw in some anonymous acts. Try to do a random act of kindness every single day. This could be washing your spouse’s car or paying for someone else’s toll on the highway. See how creative you can get!
14. Make a Giving Jar
Put a jar on your kitchen counter. Every day, add a dollar, and at the end of Lent, donate it all to your church or a favorite charity, or maybe even a neighbor or coworker you know who could use it. If you live with others, challenge them to do the same.
15. Daily Charity Support
If your budget is a little larger, consider donating a little bit every single day to a different Christian charity. Most ministries accept small online donations—five dollars is perfectly appropriate. Even if you can afford it, resist the temptation to donate it all at once at the beginning or end. The point of a Lenten journey is that it be a daily activity that helps you grow incrementally. Go online every day, learn about a ministry, and give a small amount. Try to give somewhere different every day, if possible.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Justin Kendra
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16. Adopt a Ministry
Is there a cause that’s been on your heart? Consider adopting that ministry during Lent. For instance, volunteer, give funds, and spread the word about the work they’re doing.
One year, my husband was fascinated with the work being done by the food-relief group Stop Hunger Now. He decided he was going to give up the typical American approach to eating during Lent and, for 40 days, ate only the meal packets that Stop Hunger Now provides to hungry people worldwide. The packets contain six half-cup servings of a dehydrated rice/soy mixture fortified with 21 essential vitamins and nutrients. He said the experience let him experience what real hunger can be like so he can better relate and understand for myself what it’s like and what Stop Hunger Now, food pantries, and other hunger ministries are doing for people.
17. Daily Giveaway
Sometimes, we can be guilty of owning way too much stuff. With this challenge, go through your house every single day and find one gently used item you can do without—a piece of furniture, a tool or appliance, an article of clothing, a can of food, a book or a game, etc. Put it in a giveaway box. Once a week, bring that box to your local thrift store. You’ll find your home is less cluttered, plus someone else can now benefit from what you’ve passed on.
18. Daily Social Media Scriptures
I did this idea a while back, and it was a fun and creative exercise. I like to take nature photography, so every day, I’d pair a photo I took with a Bible verse, then post them on social media. The experience was a great outlet, and other people seemed to appreciate it, too.
These are just some of the almost endless practices that can help you grow closer to God. If one of these stands out to you, try it. It’s sure to help you honor God and grow deeper in your faith.
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/everydayplus
Originally published Monday, 03 March 2025.
