5 ways to get the most out of Lent
Are you getting the most out of Lent this season? Here’s how to know for sure!
The whole point of observing the Lenten season is to direct our focus on the Lord Jesus. Anything that’s not serving to accomplish that, or anything that’s causing us to be distracted from Him by obsessing over our actions, defeats the purpose.
That’s why I’m sharing these 5 ways to get the most out of Lent. And I’m letting you in on a secret right up front: the focus of Lent shouldn’t be about what habit you’re fasting from—it should be about surrendering yourself to God as a living sacrifice.
So if you’re not sure how to best do that this Lenten season, keep reading—this is for you!
But wait… what if you’re not even sure what Lent is, or if observing it is right for you? Click here to find out right now.
RELATED: 40-Day Lent Tracker ✝️ (free download!)
1. Keep quiet about fasting during Lent
It’s human nature to want to connect with others. After all, that’s the way God created us. We’re meant for relationships with one another. But if you seriously want to get the most out of Lent this year, there’s no point in participating at all unless you keep it quiet.
Regardless of whether you’re choosing to fast from certain behaviors or to simply feast on the Lord, there’s no point to it at all if you’re going to broadcast it to everyone:
And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already. But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face, So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
Matthew 6:16-18, AMPC
It doesn’t matter that everybody else is telling all their own business about what deed they’re doing or not doing for 40 days on Facebook, Instagram, or X, it’s plain as day for us right here in God’s word: it should be between you and the Lord alone.
If your heart’s desire during Lent is to draw nearer to the Lord Jesus, do it. And no one else needs to know about your private, precious devotion of time with Him.
So however you choose to go about fasting or feasting, it’s no one else’s business and should be kept between you and the Lord.
Need extra help getting the most out of Lent? Grab this Holy Week Bible reading plan!
2. Proclaim the word of God to get the most out of Lent
The second thing that will help you get the most out of Lent is speaking the word of God aloud. Proclaim His truths, His promises, His forgiveness, His righteousness, His justice, His holiness, and His love.
Believing all the goodness the Lord has given us in His word is something we can easily forget to do, so reading scripture aloud is something that can help you do just that.
If you’re reading the Bible and a particular passage speaks to your heart, perhaps because of a situation you’re going through, it can really help to encourage your heart by reading it a second time out loud.
Remember: there is power in the word of God!
And on a related note, the Bible tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue:
The tongue can bring death or life;
those who love to talk will reap the consequences.Proverbs 18:21, NLT
So we need to speak life, and there is no better way to do that than to read God’s word aloud! The more we speak, the more we hear. The more we hear, the more our faith grows:
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17, NKJV
So proclaim the truth of God’s word—to yourself and others—this Lenten season!
3. Partake of the Lord’s Supper during Lent
This third way to get the most out of Lent goes right along with the previous one. It’s essentially another way to proclaim: by proclaiming the Lord’s death till He comes.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:26, NKJV
Partaking of communion, or the Lord’s supper, is an amazing way to draw near to God during Lent. It’s so interesting to me how many churches have a long period of introspection before taking of the bread and the cup.
This is because of the verses that follow that talk about examining yourself so you don’t eat or drink in an unworthy manner. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in a service where we were made to feel low, filthy, worthless, and unworthy. Who would dare to partake after that?
These verses are referring to people who would take the Lord’s supper without knowing Him. That is, those who haven’t accepted Him as their Lord and been truly born again. Because, honestly, who among us is worthy? Not one! But by Jesus’ gracious sacrifice we have been made so in His name and for His glory!
So believe Jesus’ body was broken for you and His blood poured out for you for the remission of your sins, and partake of communion—in remembrance of Him and the punishment for sins that He received in our place!
Need extra help getting the most out of Lent? Grab this Holy Week Bible reading plan!
4. Speak to the Lord in prayer to get the most out of Lent
There’s no way to get anything out of Lent without going to God in prayer. Even if you’re doing this good thing or not doing that bad thing, it won’t make any real difference if you’re not fellowshipping with the Lord.
It can all become so much about deeds and works and what we’re giving up that we can lose sight of what’s important. That’s why we’d do much better to use that 40-day period to simply spend time in God’s presence.
If that means you need to take time away from Netflix, social media, or podcasts in order to do that, wonderful. But make sure that that extra time is spent with Him and not priding yourself in the fact that you’re doing it.
Be sure you’re sincere. And if that’s an issue, all the more reason to go to God in prayer. Just talk to Him like He’s your loving Father. That’s literally who He is and who He wants to be to you: Abba.
Did you know that the only time Jesus called God by the name “God” was when He hung on the cross? When God turned away from Him in judgment for our sins, Jesus cried out, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?”
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we can now cry out, “Father!” to almighty God. And we have the blessed privilege of asking, “Why have you so blessed me?” 🥹 Amazing grace, love, and forgiveness. A right relationship!
Go to your Abba Father and talk to Him about everything. Praise Him, tell Him your struggles, your needs, your desires. Ask for His help, and thank Him for who He is.
5. Listen to the Holy Spirit during Lent
The last way—and possibly the most overlooked—to get the most out of Lent this year is to be still. Again, if staying off Facebook helps you with that, by all means, do it.
But we need to be sure we’re not stopping there. Use that time to be still and just KNOW.
Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:10, AMPC
When was the last that you went to the Lord in prayer, and after you were done talking to Him, you just sat and listened? Listen to what He would reveal to you through the Holy Spirit.
And even more importantly, listen to what He would reveal to you in His holy word—this is the main way God communicates with us is through His word, so we’ve got to be in the word to be hearing from Him.
How will we know His voice from others if we’re not listening to what He’s said to us in His word?
I love the book of Job. It’s got sorrow, loss, grief, backstabbing, doubt, treachery, faithlessness, abandonment, redemption, blessing, majesty, sovereignty, assurance, hope, faith, conviction… pretty much all the things.
And the wonders of God that are revealed to us in the book of Job are staggering. I love to read about God’s majesty and just praise Him for who He is!
Use your 40 days to listen. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In prayer. Through the word. And by just being still and recognizing God and His authority and excellence.
Need extra help getting the most out of Lent? Grab this Holy Week Bible reading plan!
BONUS: Sing to the Lord to get the most out of Lent
Don’t forget to sing to the Lord! Oh. It speaks to my soul. I love the old hymns, the words are priceless words of praise for the sacrifice of Jesus’ shed blood for our sins. There are some modern worship songs that have wonderful words as well.
Take time to just praise the Lord. You don’t have to be Celine Dion, your words and voice surrendered in praise to Him is a sweet aroma of offering to your loving Father!
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.Psalm 96:1-4, NKJV
For more information on getting the most out of Lent, check out this article from GotQuestions.org.
40-Day Lent Devotional
If you’re excited to use this Lenten season to start devoting time to God and growing closer to Him, but you don’t know where to start, I’ve created a special 40-Day Lent Devotional to help!
This devotional has a page for each day of Lent, and each day’s page has:
- 📖 Passage
- 💡 Principle
- 🙏 Prayer
- 💖 Praise
The devotional also includes this Lent Tracker calendar, plus a bonus pretty art print of Romans 5:8.
So if you’re ready to take advantage of the Lenten season and start devoting time in Bible reading, study, prayer, and praise to the Lord, grab this Lent Devotional and track your progress!
Final thoughts on 5 ways to get the most out of Lent
If you’re participating in Lent this season, be sure to get the absolute most out of it that you can by using these 5 ideas—keeping fasting to yourself, reading God’s word, partaking in communion, praying daily, and listening to the Holy Spirit.
Taking 40 days to be extra mindful of Christ’s sacrifice is a serious decision. And what a privilege it is to be able to go to the Lord and thank Him for what He’s done!
To get the very most possible out of Lent, brainstorm ways that you can continue to incorporate these 5 things into your life even after Lent is over. Drop an idea in the comments!
Need extra help getting the most out of Lent? Grab this Holy Week Bible reading plan!
🤔 What do you think about this topic? Share your opinion in a comment below!
Related Lent and Easter posts
- 40-Day Lent Tracker ✝️ (free download!)
- Is participating in Lent right for me? 🤔
- DIY easy Easter baskets that are “cheap cheep” 🐣
- Should we censor the graphic nature of Easter for kids? 🧐
- The worst mistake you could make this Easter 👀
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