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Lent is a time of self-denial, a time of sacrifice.

Lent is a time of giving up, a time of letting go.

Lent is a time of death.

Perhaps it seems strange that a God Who claims to be Love would ask for His beloved to practice such harsh disciplines.

The difficulty often lies in our idea of love.

We see love as sweet and soft, as gift giving and hugs, as making someone happy.

God’s love, however, is a fiery love.

God’s love is a love that cares so fiercely about His beloved’s joy that He refuses to leave anything in His beloved that might diminish that joy.

God Who is love asks us to die to ourselves because He knows that you cannot have glory without suffering.

He knows from experience that you cannot have resurrection without death.

Lent has already begun, but it is not too late to begin practicing how to die to yourself.

Fast for a meal or two; give up television for an evening. Use that time to read God’s words and pray.

Set aside thirty minutes to practice solitude and silence. Go somewhere you can be completely alone and try to still your mind and listen to God.

These habits take practice, so start small.

Let God’s Spirit teach you how to deny yourself, to give up, to sacrifice.

Learn how to die.

Only then can God give you His resurrection.

Learn how to Lent, and God will give you Easter.

all photographs are copyright Made Sacred 2018