February 22 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. This 40-day period is when Christians come together for a time of prayer and preparation to celebrate Easter. It’s a time when we look into our hearts and examine ourselves, and seek forgiveness for our failures through prayer and self-sacrifice as we prepare for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.
You may ask, why 40 days? 40 is the number of days Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness. We should also remember that Noah and his family, while on the Ark, watched the rain fall for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses was up on Mt. Sinai receiving the 10 commandments for 40 days. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. Each of the aforementioned gave way to a new beginning. For us, Jesus, while in the wilderness, fasted and prayed for 40 days which enabled Him, and us through Him, to break the bondage to material things. As Jesus said in Mark 8:36: What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Through constant prayer, Jesus demonstrated the importance of our spiritual relationship with God the Father. And the Word of God is shown as the sword of the Spirit, and it is more powerful than the ticks of the enemy. As with Jesus in the wilderness, Satan will use every temptation to deceive us, to come between us and God.
So, I invite you to use this season of Lent to examine yourself, seek forgiveness and grow your relationship with Christ. Remember, that if we first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness; all these things shall be added unto you. Most importantly, we know that we have salvation through Jesus Christ.
God bless you
Chaplain Archie Adams