I have a goal-oriented personality. Without goals I'm no good. So I try to leverage things like birthdays and New Years and Lent and Pentecost to set new spiritual goals or reestablish some God habits. A few years ago I started observing Lent and it's made Easter so much more meaningful. Can't wait for Ash Wednesday.
Here's an equation: -++=x.
Translation: subtraction plus addition equals multiplication.
What do you need to subtract from you life?
It might be a bad habit or waste of time or something that is permissible but not beneficial. Last year I gave up television for forty days. This year I'm giving up soda and candy. I know that doesn't sound super spiritual, but if you knew how much I love vanilla coke and gummy bears...
What do you need to add to your life?
You can't just subtract something. You've got to add something to your spiritual routine. I'm going to add an hour to my day. How? I'm setting my alarm clock an hour earlier than I normally do. I want to give God more of my most precious resource: time.
I'm believing that subtraction and addition will result in multiplication. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been filled with more holy anticipation about what God is doing in my life and the life of National Community Church. But I'm believing Him for greater things! I want Him to multiply what He is already doing!
Question: what are you subtracting or adding for Lent?
Here's an equation: -++=x.
Translation: subtraction plus addition equals multiplication.
What do you need to subtract from you life?
It might be a bad habit or waste of time or something that is permissible but not beneficial. Last year I gave up television for forty days. This year I'm giving up soda and candy. I know that doesn't sound super spiritual, but if you knew how much I love vanilla coke and gummy bears...
What do you need to add to your life?
You can't just subtract something. You've got to add something to your spiritual routine. I'm going to add an hour to my day. How? I'm setting my alarm clock an hour earlier than I normally do. I want to give God more of my most precious resource: time.
I'm believing that subtraction and addition will result in multiplication. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been filled with more holy anticipation about what God is doing in my life and the life of National Community Church. But I'm believing Him for greater things! I want Him to multiply what He is already doing!
Question: what are you subtracting or adding for Lent?
12 Comments:
I am fasting from all non-worked related computer-time.
I'm giving up meat for lent. I know that sounds silly but God has been working on me keeping his temple pure, so I hve been slowly weening out things such as soda and etc. Anyway, and I am adding extra study time with him, or rather to attempt to pray without ceasing. Ha so lent should be awesome this year
I'm not completely sure yet, but here's what I'm thinking.
My fiancee Heather and I are getting married in May, so I know the addition. We pray together daily, and we talk about what we've been learning at least weekly (though it ends up more often). To move us toward marriage in the right direction, I think we will be adding daily time in the word together--just a short little time over dinner or something like that.
Then for subtraction. I'm getting off of facebook, for one, for the Lent season. And TV/movie time is going to be cut significantly.
I'm hoping for greater things in my new life in marriage.
I'm going on a Facebook & Twitter fast for Lent. It'll be hard because I'm so addicted. It should make for a productive 40 days!
I'm adding journaling (the hand-written kind) and I'm going to read through all the NT in 40 days.
My denomination does not acknowledge Lent, but I've personally found it to be a helpful time for spiritual renewal so I appreciate your post of encouragement.
Give up: frequent checking of e-mail/FB/blogs/...; and a complaining spirit.
Add on: focus on the present, the now, where God IS; more prayer; more meditation on the Word.
Our church is doing Lent this year. Fat Tuesday Dutch Lunch with Pastor is tomorrow to kick it off. I am subtracting all forms of video. I am adding writing time to finish a book manuscript. I am in chapter five of seven.
Thaks for the writing advice back in June.
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Every year I fast TV. Never gets old and always gets me outside into God's creation in new ways.
As far as addition, my wife are going to work through Phyllis Tickle's Diving Hours: Eastertide. We are really excited to add that to our daily routine.
We do not observe Lent but several years ago I challenged the church I pastor to give up something. I gave up chocolate and caffeine pop (Diet Dr. Pepper). This time I am giving up ALL POP. That ought to be a challenge. For adding: I somehow don't think adding more cycling is quite what you (or God) has in mind. :) So...not sure yet about the addition part.
Our church community just began a Lenten series titled formed. If we want Christ to be formed in us, we must be intentional. So, we'll be working through some spiritual disciplines...adding some things to be intentional in our personal formation.
Hey Mark, I just want to thank you for your thoughts, blogs and books. I have used them to challenge myself and my team to think purple. Just today I was thinking about fasting something for 40 days. Needless to say, when I read your post tonight I was encouraged to press in even deeper.
Actually,good post. thx
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