Have You Considered a Season of Decrease?

Next week, Wednesday, March 2, is Ash Wednesday, which represents the first day of Lent.

Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection.

Ash Wednesday

Typically, Christians “give up” or sacrifice or fast something during these 40 days in an attempt to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross and to spend more time with Him and His Word. Various food items, electronics, online shopping or other time-consumers may be selected to fast from and spend the time in His Word. Google can give you lists after lists of ideas for fasting something.

But what about a season of decrease? Consider these questions from the book, “40 Days of Decrease” by Alicia Britt Chloe:

· What might be the fruit of fasting stinginess?

· What would happen if our churches fasted spectatorship?

· What might occur if our families fasted accumulation?

· What could change if our office fasted revisionism?

· What might erupt if a new generation fasted escapism?

Such fasts could trigger a spiritual revolution. (40 Days of Decrease, Britt,

page xvii)

As you can see, this book takes on a different approach and a different perspective which came from the author’s time after experiencing serious health problems following a surgery. As she describes:

“God asked me to fast mental and physical strength. He invited me into holy weakness. I found Jesus there.” (40 Days of Decrease, Britt, page xiv)

Years later, her health improved, and she stated that she would not have traded that “desert of pain for the world.” (40 Days of Decrease, Britt, page xiv). Her desire through this book is for this season of preparation to provide us the opportunity to pause and be grateful for reductions.

Consider a different perspective this year to read during each of the 40 days or weekly or the time which works for you. I am reading this for the 3rd year. I glean something each time I read it and meditate on it.

Blessings to each of you during this Lent season of 2022.

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel

To purchase "40 Days of Decrease" on Amazon