What is Lent And How Should I Observe It?

I've been writing frequently for new Christians recently, as my TikTok feed seems to be full of them - thanks, algorithm! It has got me so excited, and has also challenged me, because I have been a Christian for over 25 years and feel too comfortable in my faith and the traditions and words I use day to day. So seeing Jesus again through the lens of new faith, without knowing everything, has been refreshing. I hope that my attempts at explaining and sharing have been helpful.

We're in the middle of Lent now, so it may be a little late for this year, but by next year, you'll have been a Christian for over a year, and you might want to know what's going on, what Lent is, and how to observe it.

So... Why have people given up chocolate (even non-Christians!)? Why do some have ash on their foreheads? And what does any of this have to do with Easter - because that's what it's linked to, isn't it? Lent can feel mysterious, especially because Christians observe it in different ways, but it’s a beautiful invitation, and one that is extended to you, too.

So, what is Lent?

Lent is a 40-day season in the Christian calendar leading up to Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter Sunday (the Sundays in between aren’t counted in the 40 days, so Ash Wednesday is actually 47 days before Easter Sunday, which can add confusion).

The day before Ash Wednesday is Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day. This is the day people traditionally rid their homes of indulgent and rich foods like eggs, butter and sugar - the things you need for pancakes - how serendipitous!! 

The 40 days of Lent remind us of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before He began His public ministry (Matthew 4). Just as Jesus prepared Himself for what was ahead, Lent is a time for us to prepare our hearts.

A great way to begin Lent is to head to church on Ash Wednesday and have ashes put on your forehead in the sign of a cross. The ashes remind me I am a sinner, but the cross reminds me I have a saviour. How powerful is that?!

Fasting is not about earning God’s love - He already loves us more than we know or deserve. This time of fasting and pondering is about slowing down enough to remember how much we need Him. At the end of Lent, Easter Weekend, we see how He has done everything we couldn't.

A little history

Christians have observed Lent for over 1,500 years. In the early church, it was primarily a time when new believers prepared for baptism, which often took place at Easter. The whole church would fast and pray alongside them. I love this, especially as I was baptised on Easter Sunday - though I hadn't grasped much about what Lent was about then, as the church I went to didn't talk much about it.

Over time, Lent became a season for all believers to reflect, repent, and refocus on Christ before celebrating the joy of Easter, and that is essentially what it is today.

In many traditions, such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, and the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lent remains an important part of the church year and is a big deal. Other Protestant churches observe it more simply, and yet others don't mention it much at all, like the church I went to as a child - I barely knew it was happening.

Why does Lent matter?

Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, the most joyful day in the Christian calendar. But if we rush there without reflection, we can miss the depth of what it cost Jesus.

Lent helps us:

• Remember our need for a Saviour - we came from dust and will return to dust. This is why some people put ash on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday, as mentioned earlier.

• Reflect on Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice - many devotions are available to go through, culminating with this as Easter approaches.

• Turn away from habits or distractions that pull us from God - this is where fasting or giving something up comes in.

• Prepare our hearts to truly rejoice at Easter - it is like a holy pause, a quiet time before great rejoicing.

• Cultivate a habit of prayer - this is a great time to focus on prayer, you can pray for something specific or different each day. There are also resources available for this.

What does it mean to “give something up”?

Fasting during Lent is about turning away from habits and rejecting things that distract us from Jesus. The classic thing to fast from is chocolate - each time you miss it or feel the discomfort of not having it, it should remind you to turn to God and pray instead, filling your spiritual hunger rather than your physical hunger. 

Jesus did not eat or drink for 40 days and spent that time praying to His father in heaven for strength and sustenance. We are to do the same - always, but Lent is a specific time of focus on this.

Last year, I fasted from snoozing my alarm - I practised getting up earlier and rejecting my laziness and desire for the comfort of my bed. This is something I felt I needed, and would be a good thing to draw me closer to God.

Here are some ideas of things you might fast from:

Food-related fasts - if there's something you will miss and will make you turn to God frequently

• Chocolate or sweets

• Takeaways or eating out

• Coffee

• Alcohol

• A meal once a week or once a day (using that time to pray)

Digital fasts - these are really beneficial, and I use them frequently throughout the year.

• Social media

• Streaming services

• Gaming

• News consumption

Lifestyle fasts - great especially if the other fasts aren't suitable.

• Shopping for non-essentials

• Complaining

• Sleeping in

• Busyness (intentionally simplifying your schedule)

The key question is  “What most distracts me from God?” Consider what will draw you closer to Him as you frequently turn to Him in prayer instead of the thing you're giving up.

When you feel the pull toward that thing, let it become a prompt to pray:
“Lord, I need You more than this.”

It’s not only about giving up — it’s about taking up

Sometimes the most powerful way to observe Lent isn’t subtracting something, but adding something life-giving:

• Reading a Gospel slowly over the 40 days

• Setting aside 10 minutes daily for prayer

• Keeping a gratitude journal

• Serving at church or in your community

• Giving generously to a charity

• Memorising Scripture

Lent becomes transformative when fasting and prayer go hand in hand. Walk through the story told in the gospels, so that Easter will feel even more incredible. 

How should you observe Lent as a new Christian?

Start simply. You don’t need to do everything. You don’t need to fast dramatically. You don’t need to copy someone else’s practice.

Here’s a starting point to consider:

1. Choose one small thing to fast from.

2. Choose one small spiritual habit to add.

3. Ask God to use these 40 days to draw you closer to Him.

Pray upon those decisions and let the Holy Spirit guide you to what He would have you do this year. He wants to draw closer to you, let Him do this and give Him the space in your life to. Lent isn’t about perfection. You might forget. You might give in. You might struggle. But every time you begin again, you’re practising grace.

Preparing for Easter

When Easter morning arrives, you’ll celebrate not just an event, but a journey. You'll have remembered that you are but dust. You'll have walked in the wilderness for 40 days. You'll have seen the cross. The darkness. The waiting.

And then... Sunday Morning... the empty tomb. 

What joy!!

If you’re new to faith, think of Lent as an invitation. An opportunity to draw closer to Jesus, quieter days to meditate before celebrating the greatest day in history.

 

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