Fredrikson Center | Devotionals | Lent

What is Lent?

2023 Lent Devotionals

Lent is a 40-day period beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter. It symbolizes the 40 days that Jesus spent wandering the desert fasting and resisting Satan’s temptation. Christians practice Lent to show discipline and penance to God. Though Lent is not mentioned in the Bible, it is a tradition long accepted in the Christian church. Sundays are not counted in Lent since the primary focus of all Sundays in the Christian faith should be the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

Lent remains a prominent part of the Christian faith. It is still characterized by sacrificing something for the Lord and focusing on spiritual growth. This includes not only fasting and prayer but partaking in new practices and acts of service that draw us closer to Christ. It is a time for Christians to repent of sin, renew their faith, and prepare to celebrate the resurrection of their Savior. It is our prayer that the words on these pages will be used by the Holy Spirit to identify changes that need to take place in our lives to draw closer to Christ. If one person’s life is opened to God’s grace in Jesus Christ then contributors to this devotional will have the greater reward.

Latest Devotional

Day 33 - March 31, 2023

Our Relationships Target

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment… And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37, 39

In both Greek and Hebrew archery terms, the word “sin” means “missing the mark,” that is—missing the target. Jesus said that the target is the Greatest Commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” The “target” is our relationship to God and to other people (and even nature). When we sin, we break relationships.

In this Lenten time of self-examination and reflection we remember why Jesus came. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19 NKJV). “All this was done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also.” (2 Cor. 5:18 TEV)

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for the relationships we break, and thank you for restoring them through Christ.

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