The Lent Period is a season of formal adherence and preparation for celebrating Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross and His resurrection at Easter. We must use the Lent period as a time of prayer and meditation to renew our faith, acknowledge our weaknesses before God, and repent and mend our ways. Moreover, we should use this Lent period to restore our relationship with Christ, follow His commandments, forgive those who have sinned against us, and love others as ourselves.
Our Lord overcame the deceptions of the Evil One in the desert during the forty days and showed us the path that we must take to please our Heavenly Father. During this Lent period, we must ask the Holy Spirit to lead us on a journey of conversion. We must utilize this Lent period to rediscover the living word of God, refrain from sinning, and serve Jesus by serving our brothers and sisters in need.
7 Ultimate Things to Give Up During Lent Period
We do not just want good things to forgo for Lent, rather we want to find the best things to renounce during Lent. As we are deciding to give up during the Lent period, we should find things that are purposeful, unique, and that would truly make a difference in our lives.
Let us look at seven meaningful things that would help us become more like Christ, remember his mercy and grace, grow in gratitude, and focus more on him than ourselves.
#1 Give up Complaining — Focus on Gratitude
During this Lent period, we should focus more on being grateful for what we have, rather than complaining about what we do not have. When we develop an attitude of gratitude, blessings will always be on the way and reach us sooner.
Philippians 2:14-15 – Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure… 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.
#2 Give up Bitterness — Turn to Forgiveness
During this Lent period, we should dig up the root of bitterness with the shovel of forgiveness. Bitterness affects our health, mind, personality, and our relationship with God. Forgiveness sets us free from hurt, anxiety, grudge, anger, and the bondage of sin, and draws us closer to God.
Ephesians 4:31 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
#3 Give up Worry — Trust in the Lord
During this Lent period, we should put an end to our old ways of worrying and enter into a new life of peace with God by trusting in Him and pouring out our hearts to Him.
Matthew 6:25, 27 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… who by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:33 – But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
#4 Give up Discouragement — Be Full of Hope
During this Lent period, we should not feel discouraged as our Savior died for us to give us hope. If we let discouragement overtake us, it will settle in our souls and eat away at our hope. We should cast our burdens upon our all-powerful God and place our faith in Him to redeem us from our broken lives and wasted years.
Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you: he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
#5 Give up Hatred — Return Good for Evil
During this Lent period, we should stop hating as it destroys our happiness and love of life. When we hate we focus on the negative aspects of others and we experience grief, disgust, fear, rage, and resentment. Jesus loved His enemies and returned good for evil as He died for people who rejected and punished Him, knowing He was innocent and pure. When we do good for evil and love our enemies, Christ works within us, and we will be the sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.
1 John 2:9 – Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Luke 6:27 – But I tell you who hear me; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
#6 Give up Anger — Be More Patient
During this Lent period, we should control our temper and be patient with one another. When people mistreat us, and there is nothing we can do about it, we get angry. We should never let our feelings control us and pray to God to help forgive the person/persons causing the problem. When stress and frustration overtake us, we should practice patience, which comes when we yield to the Holy Spirit. Developing and growing in patience is a process that transforms us from our human nature into our heavenly nature, and into the likeness of Christ.
Matthew 5:22 – But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to judgment. Proverbs 15:18 – A hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.
#7 Give up Gossiping — Control the Tongue
During this Lent period, we need to fight the urge to gossip about others and correct our defects and faults. Gossip is a verbal poison that can cause trouble in our personal as well as social lives. Giving up gossiping can help us to have more substantive conversations and speak only those things that encourage, comfort, and inspire others. We would have experienced the pain of regretting the words we have spoken in our lives.
As we all know that Life and Death are in the power of the Tongue, we must put our heart in tune with God’s spirit by reading the scriptures daily, dedicate our day to the Lord, assume responsibility for every word we speak, cross-check with others to see if we have offended them through our words, and ask for forgiveness for any words of dishonesty, pride, envy, or anger.
Leviticus 19:16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Psalm 34:13 – Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Proverbs 21:23 – He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
These things we choose to relinquish during this Lent period would help us get closer to God, break free of sins we are struggling with, and develop tolerance and harmony with others.
Our articles on Lent will help you understand the need for God’s presence in your lives and use this season as a time of repenting, sobriety, refocusing, and renewing. Practice prayer, observe fasting, give up something, and assist those in need.
