Many of us grew up in religious traditions that did not participate in Ash Wednesday services. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the forty days of Lent. Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Anglicans, Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox, and other traditions held Ash Wednesday services many years before some Presbyterians began the custom.

In the Bible, ashes are mentioned several times as a sign of mourning, mortality, and repentance. For example, in the book of Esther, King Xerxes of Persia decreed the death of all the Jewish people in the Persian Empire:

Esther 4:1 – When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. (NIV)

After the series of disasters that happened to Job, Job 2:8 tells us that he sat among the ashes. Tamar and Daniel also used ashes as a sign of mourning and repentance.

The use of ashes to denote mourning and repentance continued through the years. Eventually, the use of ashes was adapted to mark the beginning of Lent. Receiving the ashes reminds us to repent humbly before God, and encourages us to renew the promises of baptism and to live out the kingdom of God now as we look forward to its fulfillment in heaven.

Ash Wednesday itself is only part of the picture of Lent. It is the beginning of a special opportunity to spend forty days examining our own lives, as we consider the cross and the sacrifice our Lord made for us — a sacrifice unequal to any in the world. The challenge for us is to make the forty days of Lent a time that brings us closer to the Lord. To help accomplish this purpose, I share a list of forty things which I came across on the Internet, offering them in a spirit of freedom as ideas one might try during Lent as expressions of faith:

• Try to understand another's point of view
• Make someone laugh
• Praise someone honestly
• Say, "I'm sorry" and mean it
• Act like Jesus
• Clean up an eyesore in your neighborhood
• Respond the first time someone calls you
• Send a crocus to someone from whom you are estranged
• Ask God to do what is best for the person you dislike most
• Help someone realize his or her self-worth
• Cement a friendship
• Try not to waste anything for one whole day
• Call someone who is lonely
• Drive patiently today
• Resist trying to be the centre of attention
• Be a shoulder to cry on
• Expand your horizons — go to a lecture, read a book, see a play
• Be patient with others
• Refuse to gossip
• Refuse to whine
• Readily forgive anyone who hurts you
• Surprise yourself
• Make someone else the centre of attention
• If you love someone, say so
• Thank God for the gift of life
• Pray for a friend
• Pray for an enemy
• Start something good
• Visit a shut-in
• Give away all your "extras"
• Resist judging coworkers
• Examine your conscience
• Stop a label or stereotype in your workplace
• Refuse to judge or categorize others
• Be a sign of hope for someone who is depressed
• Spend some silent time alone
• Be a peacemaker at work or school
• Recognize the truth about yourself — no matter how good it is
• Participate actively in Holy Week worship
• Sing a hymn or chorus

Prayer: Today and every day, Lord, we need to be reminded of the great sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to be mindful in every hour of every day of the gift of eternal life which You have given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. In His name, we pray. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Saranne (Punky) Penberthy <saranne.penberthy@gmail.com>
Clifton, Texas, USA
Send your feedback to the author