Lent – a Time for Spiritual Growth

We grow spiritually when we pray, when we fast, and when we give alms.  This Lent we should aim to grow in each of these areas.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Start off Ash Wednesday with a day of fasting and abstinence
2. Plan to fast from one of your favourite foods for the 40 days of Lent
3. Meditate on the Stations of the Cross on Fridays
4. Try to fill 40 bags in 40 days – any size bag filled with useful items to donate
5. Attend church regularly
6. Spend time reading your Bible, especially the Gospels
7. If possible, join a Bible study or prayer group
8. Start each day with 10 minutes of prayer
9. Finish each day with 5 to 10 minutes of prayer
10. Practice sacrificing and giving up little pleasures to practice selflessness
11. Collect all your extra change from your fasting and sacrifices to donate after Lent
12. Practice laughter – smile at those around you
13. Have a games night by candlelight to think of those without power
14. Make a daily list of something you are thankful for
15. Say grace before meals
16. Compliment all those you meet
17. Sort through your clothes to donate, items that are too small or not recently worn
18. Sort through your footwear and donate gently used items
19. Sort through your children’s toys and donate
20. Sort through outerwear and donate
21. Sort through your kitchen, declutter and donate
22. Daily meditate on the Jesus Prayer
23. Donate to a food drive
24. Invite someone to tea or supper
25. Send an extra snack with your child to school for sharing
26. Offer someone a lift
27. Take a walk and pray for your neighbours as you walk by their homes
28. Read a spiritual book
29. Visit a sick friend
30. Pray for the conversion of family members
31. Pray for the conversion of friends
32. Bring a meal to a new mother
33. Shut off your computer for an hour and visit with family members
34. Have fun outside – skating or tobogganing if you have snow
35. Watch a Christian movie with family or friends
36. Donate some books to the library
37. Do a spring cleaning before Easter
38. Pray for your pastor and your church
39. Pray for those who have died
40. Prepare to celebrate by preparing an Easter Feast

What are your plans for spiritual growth this Lent?

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• Posted in: faith ♦ family life ♦ Fun ♦ Lent
• Tagged: almsgiving, Christian, faith, fasting, lent, praying