I am not an expert in Lent. I just lived it as a youth and I have made a choice now, as a Born Again follower of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, to take this time to draw closer to Him and to remember Him and all that he has done for me. Lent is a time to remember and to celebrate! Jesus – lead us to the cross….(see link to song below)
The palm branches that were given as a symbol to remember Jesus entry into the city on the donkey are burned and mixed with oil and used to paint an “ash” cross on the forehead. The ash is to signify remorse or mourning and that we have come from dust.
The good news is that God breathed life into that dust and created us in His Image. The great new is that Jesus, our Savior, came to set us free.
Typically, during lent we fast, we sacrifice by giving up something and we pray.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna! ”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:12
So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments Daniel 9:3-4
Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” Daniel 9:18-1
Go to https://www.bible.com/reading-plans to start the The 40-Day New Testament Challenge