Preparing for Lent 2021

Tracy Hillwig February 2, 2021

If you bookmarked this page earlier and now can’t find the Lent devotions, click here.

Participating in Lent is something new to Calvary, but as our leaders and staff began preparing for Easter in January (yes, January!), it laid heavy on our hearts that this year, our church needs to do more than celebrate Easter. We need to prepare for it. Much like Advent prepares a Christian’s heart to receive the gift that Christmas represents, Lent can be a time to turn our wandering hearts toward the things of God.

An Invitation to Fast

Christians from many denominations and traditions participate in the tradition of fasting for Lent. Fasting has two main purposes and both are centered on God: 1) to plead with God to act, usually with an attitude of prayer or mourning, or 2) to act on a desire for more of God in one’s life. You may find your fast is about one or both of these purposes. But keep in mind that fasting is not to “fix” you or to make yourself better. It’s about “getting to the end of your rope” or putting yourself in a place of desperation/need so you can depend on God.

In the 2021 Lenten season, we’re inviting you to fast from media. Why media? Because right now it seems to be the most persistent and widespread thing distracting people from the things of God. Set some form of media aside this year and let the familiar tug to turn it on instead lead you to prayer, Bible reading, meditation, reaching out to a church friend, serving others, etc. Use the time you would normally give to that form of media to invest in your relationship with God, your church family, and your community.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline, and discipline takes some work. Fasting from food is actually meant to be a difficult and a persistent reminder that our real source of sustenance is God. Fasting from media, we believe, can also be a persistent reminder that our real source of truth is God.

How Do I Fast?

Begin with prayer. What and how you fast is up to you, but in these couple of weeks before Lent begins (on February 17), begin asking God if there’s something he would have you sacrifice. Ask him to prepare your heart for this time of deprivation. Consider limiting your media time now to help you get ready.

Check out some of the resources we’ve compiled about fasting. They’re at the end of this message. If you’ve never fasted before, it can be really helpful to understand the hows and whys of this spiritual discipline.

WHAT SHOULD I FAST FROM? That’s up to you. You might already know if there’s something you’re indulging in too much or letting influence your thinking about the world, other people, or yourself. If not, pick something to give up, or ask a trusted friend, and turn the time and attention you give to that to God instead. See what God does with that sacrifice. Some suggested media to fast from:

News programs, websites, newspapers, or magazines
Social media platforms like Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, etc.
Entertainment sites and apps or television
Blogs & websites

Let us be very clear here: Giving up one form of media and substituting another in its place is not fasting. (Re-read the previous paragraphs for what you should be substituting.) Giving up watching the news but reading it instead is not a fast. If you find yourself substituting one media source for another, ask God to reveal why you run to a particular media source. Solace? Distraction? Is it an idol? Removing media makes room for silence in our own heads and hearts, and we’re often too quick to fill that with noise and activity.

DO I HAVE TO GIVE UP ALL MEDIA FOR ALL OF LENT? No. We’re encouraging you to give up 1 kind of media for Lent. You can do more. You can also choose to limit your exposure instead of giving it up completely. Be sacrificial but also realistic. The point is not to prove you can give something up; it’s to give something up so you can turn toward God instead. Keep him central to your fast. Here are some different ways you can fast:

Give up one thing for the entire season of Lent
Limit your exposure to a certain amount of time each day and stick to that
Give up a different media source each week (i.e. week 1: watching the news, week 2: Instagram blackout, etc.)

WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS TIME? First and foremost, divert time and attention to God. When you would normally turn to media, turn instead to prayer or Bible reading. Ask God to be present and guide you to his truth.
One of the things media seems to do (inadvertently) is break down community. You may want to use some of your time to build up your relationships with people in the church community instead. Send a text, call a friend, meet someone for coffee (even if it’s over Zoom!), find a way to serve someone else, do something helpful in the local community, do something you always say you don’t have time to do, etc.

We’re excited to embark on this season of fasting, prayer, and preparation with you, our church family. Join us in setting aside distraction to turn toward God..