Lent, It’s Not For You

Lent might seem like a personal journey—a time for self-reflection, repentance, and spiritual discipline. But here’s the truth: Lent is not for you.

It’s not just for you. And, in another way, it’s not even about you. The point of engaging in Lenten disciplines is not just personal spiritual growth—it’s about being spiritually formed into someone who reflects Jesus more clearly to the world around you. The people in your life—your family, your coworkers, your neighbors—are the ones who will truly benefit from the person you become through this season.

Lent is a 40-day period leading up to Easter that mirrors Jesus’ time in the wilderness. It is a season of formation, shaping us so that we more meaningfully engage with others and share our faith in authentic ways. The traditional Lenten practices—fasting, prayer, and acts of service—are not about earning God’s favor or proving our devotion. They are about making room for God to transform us so that others may encounter Christ through us.

1. Fasting: Letting Go to Make Space for Others

Fasting is often thought of as a personal challenge—giving up sweets, coffee, or social media. But in a Lutheran context, fasting isn’t about self-denial for its own sake; it’s about letting go of distractions so we can be more present to God and to others.

Why Fast?

Jesus fasted in the wilderness, preparing for His ministry by focusing on God alone. His fasting wasn’t just for Him—it equipped Him to serve, heal, and teach. For us, fasting is about loosening our grip on the things that take up too much of our attention so we can be more available to love and serve the people around us.

Instead of just asking, “What am I giving up?” consider asking, “How will my fasting make me more attentive to God and others?”

2. Prayer: Forming a Heart for Others

Lent is a season of renewal, and prayer is at the heart of that renewal. But prayer isn’t just about our personal relationship with God—it’s about being shaped into people who reflect His love to the world.

Ways to Engage During Lent

• Intercessory Prayer – Instead of focusing only on your own needs, commit to praying daily for others in your community.
• Praying with Scripture – Read the Gospels and ask, “How does Jesus interact with people? How can I reflect Him in my daily interactions?”
• Prayer Walks – Walk through your neighborhood or workplace, praying for the people you encounter.
• Random Acts of Kindness – We don’t need a mid-week service. The LAST thing Christians need is another excuse to isolate from people outside the faith by taking on an extra activity in the building. We are all missionaries who need to be in the mission field. Plot and plan with a friend or two how you can surprise someone you know with an act of kindness. A shared meal, coffee together, invite friends to a trivia night at a local pub. Be creative, but do it out there, in the community, where the unchurched live their lives. That’s what missionaries do. 

3. Acts of Service: Becoming Someone Who Points to Jesus

Lent isn’t just about looking inward—it’s about being shaped into people who live outward. Jesus reminds us that true faith is shown through love and service. Almsgiving, or giving to those in need, is a longstanding Lenten tradition that Lutherans can practice with the goal of being Christ’s presence in the world.

Ways to Serve During Lent

• Give relationally – Instead of just donating to a charity, take time to know the people you are serving.
• Listen more, talk less – Engage in conversations where you truly hear someone’s struggles, joys, and questions.
• Live generously – Be someone who is quick to offer encouragement, hospitality, and kindness.

Lutheran Lent: A Season of Formation for the Sake of Others

Lutherans believe that our relationship with God is built on grace, not works. Lent isn’t about proving ourselves to God—it’s about being formed into people who embody Christ’s love in a broken world. This season is an invitation not just to grow for our own sake but so that others may see Jesus more clearly through us.

Call to Action #1: Growing Our Church Community

Lent is not only a time for personal growth—it’s an opportunity to invite others into the journey. As we reflect on the theme of “Breaking Up with the Wrong God” from our Lenten sermon series, we recognize that many people carry misconceptions about who God is. Some see Him as a distant judge, a strict rule-enforcer, or someone who only rewards the “good” and punishes the “bad.”

Here’s how you can help grow our church during Lent:

• Invite someone to worship (and take them out to lunch afterward) – Many people are open to faith conversations during this season. Share how our Lenten series is addressing real questions about God and faith.
• Share your story – Have you ever struggled with seeing God as distant or angry? How did you come to understand His grace? Your story might encourage someone else.
• Pray for those who are seeking – Lent is a time for people to wrestle with deep questions. Commit to praying for those who are exploring faith.

Call to Action #2: Engaging in a Lenten Practice for the Sake of Others

One of the core messages of our first three Lenten sermons is that God is not a transaction, He is not absent, and He is not angry. Too often, people see Lent as a religious obligation rather than an invitation to be shaped into the kind of people who embody Christ’s love.

This Lent, we challenge you to take on one of these spiritual practices with a Lutheran perspective:

• Fast from distractions – Instead of just giving something up, consider fasting from whatever keeps you from noticing and loving others well.
• Pray with others in mind – Make a list of people to pray for each day and ask God to open your heart toward them.
• Commit to one act of service per week – Not just for the sake of doing good, but to intentionally reflect the character of Christ in your relationships.

Lent is not about guilt—it’s about transformation. It’s about rediscovering the real Jesus, the one who runs toward us, meets us in our doubts, and calls us to follow Him.

And at the end of the day, Lent is not for you. It’s for the people in your life who will encounter Christ through you. Let’s engage in this season of formation with hearts open to grace, ready to be shaped into people who bring Jesus to a world in need.

Pastor Mark