Pastor Rick Hudgens | It Starts with Commitment

The highlight of the year for Christians is Easter, the day when our Lord rose from the dead. Lent is a forty-day season of preparation for Easter, which always begins on Ash Wednesday. This year, Ash Wednesday is February 25.

The Lenten season is observed for 40 days, extending to midnight on the day before Easter, omitting Sundays. In many languages, the word, “Lent,” actually means “fast.” This is where the custom of giving up something for Lent originated. The original meaning of Lent is “holy spring.” Traditionally, it was a time of preparation. Christians have used Lent as a time to prepare themselves for Easter by asking God to show them their failures and by repenting of their wrongdoings. Consequently, it was both a time of learning about the Christian faith, as well as a time of self-examination and soul-searching that included repentance, self-denial, prayer and fasting.

The Lenten season is a time for new beginnings. We should consider it a time of spiritual spring-cleaning; a challenge to forsake evil in our lives and turn back to God. It is also a time to reflect on Christ’s journey to the cross ending at the Resurrection. Let’s use this time wisely and let it draw us closer to our God as we remember his great love and sacrifice for us.

Pastor Rick brings an important message about beginning our Lenten season with commitment.

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