A Lenten Journey
by Katie Harding on February 16, 2026
The 40 days of Lent, representative of Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting in the wilderness, begin this year on Ash Wednesday, which is February 18. In many protestant churches, the observance of Ash Wednesday and Lent are not as commonly practiced as some other traditions. I didn’t fully understand the invitation to observe Lent until we joined our current church ten years ago.
Today I have been reflecting on what to give up for Lent because there is a purpose to the fasting other than simply abstaining from something. Knowing what I’m fasting for can be even more important than what I’m fasting from. This year, I want to be very intentional to observe Lent as a time for recentering my soul on Christ.
As I think about recentering, I’m wondering: Is there an area of my life I feel is out of alignment? Is there something Jesus has asked me to do or not do and I’m not following through? Is there an action, attitude, or appetite for something that needs to be addressed? Jesus said, “‘All those who love me will do what I say’” (John 14:23a). Obedience seems to go hand in hand with recentering. This will be my fasting for. The next step will be deciding what to fast from.
Knowing what I’m fasting for can be even more important than what I’m fasting from.
As a teen, when my dad wanted to change our behaviors, he would discipline us by taking away that which meant the most. It was as if my dad would put us on an intentional fast, so we could re-center our lives around what we were being asked to do or not do. For me, I was forced to fast from the phone, as my best friend lived out in the country, and the phone was the way we stayed in touch. The fast always brought about the right change — at least until the next time.
Selecting what I’m fasting from will be a matter of deciding what will bring about the desired result. What can I remove from my life to give me the space to re-center my soul on Christ and be more obedient to His commands? It’s not about behavior modification, which is what my dad was aiming for, but heart transformation — allowing Jesus to make changes from the inside out. The decision of what to fast from will take intentionality and a commitment to adhere to the fast for 40 days, as change takes time.
Whether you have observed Lent before or not, I invite you to join us on this Lenten Journey. It will be a journey of regeneration. A time of dying to something in one area of life, so rebirth can occur in another. It won’t be easy because pruning hurts, but the joy of the journey will be worth it. Text the word Lent to 877-536-2078 to join us and receive a weekly message with a Scripture and thought on which to reflect.
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