Make Room and Lent

The season of Lent, practiced in churches and denominations around the world begins this week. These six weeks are set-aside for the purpose of drawing closer to God; to seek Him with great intensity.  In the denomination where I grew up, we did not practice Lent.  It was not until I became an adult that I first practiced what was reduced to, “What are you giving up for Lent”.  That question is a great start, but leaning into the season and meaning of Lent, one soon has to ask “How will I repent and return to God with all my heart?”  And from there the real questions that begs answers, “Where in my life have I gotten away from God?  Where have I strayed and how do I renew my passion in the cold places of my heart?”

For the next six weeks my church launches a new small group alignment series, Make Room.  It is designed for one purpose – to help you carve out space for God.  To meet him, to experience him, to quiet the distractions and pay attention to your relationship with God, who is calling us to return to him.  It sounds a lot like Lent.  Same time frame, same outcome.  We can’t make God move, but we can make room.

 “‘And yet even now,’ says the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart . . .’”—Joel 2:12