Easter is one of the two most significant holidays for Christians, the other one being Christmas. On December 25, we remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save us from our sins. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the victory we’ve been given through his death, burial, and resurrection.
The six weeks leading up to Easter is known as the season of Lent. Many believers choose to set aside time during this 40-day period to reflect on the Lord’s sacrifice and to consecrate themselves before him. Such preparation often includes days of fasting from certain foods, television, and/or social media. During this time, many Christians also choose to participate in a Daniel Fast.
This year, the Lenten Fast starts on Ash Wednesday, February 26, and ends on Thursday, April 9. (Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday is technically 44 days; however, the number of days for penance and fasting before Easter is still 40: 44 days minus six Sundays equals 38, plus Good Friday and Holy Saturday equals 40).
Will you commit to fast and pray during Lent? Following are a few ways you can participate:
- Follow my 40-day Prayer Guide.
- Do a Daniel Fast (my book, The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast, provides all you need to complete the fast successfully).
- Use Lift Up Your Voice: 21 Daily Devotions for Your Daniel Fast to guide your Bible study and prayer time.
- Fast one day a week.
- Do a combination of fasts (water, juice, Daniel).
- Print out a copy of my Holy Week Prayer Guide and use it the week before Easter.
The most important thing you and I can do is to pray. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16B NLT). May the Lord go before us and perform miracles in people’s lives during this Lenten season!
[For more information about the Daniel Fast, visit About the Daniel Fast.]