This discipline helps us to rediscover God’s will and purpose for us. God’s word gives us hope for the future, guidance and refreshment. It takes us away from the allurement and deception of this world’s values to Christ who is our Source of life and light. 

God’s word helps us to rediscover our mission and reminds us that eternal significance comes from God and not from our achievements or the lack thereof. Through the words of God our affection for Jesus is rekindled, our sight is restored and power is given for us to love one another as Christ loved us.  The community is healed, reinvigorated, and is endued with holy passion and boldness to engage in the work of God to the glory of God.

When we truly engage in these spiritual disciplines of self-examination, repentance, prayer, fasting, self-denial, reading and meditating on the word of God, God is honoured and exalted. Thus, we are renewed for the journey and prepared for the blessings Christ’s passion and resurrection bring.  We are empowered to “strive” and “force’ our way against the opposition and temptation of Satan, the world, and the flesh; through the narrow gate into the kingdom of heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 13:22-25; 16:16; Matthew 11:12).

Perhaps, we will discover that Lent is actually the normal Christian life rather than a liturgical season in the Christian year.

This Lent, I invite you to take the opportunity to build yourself up and grow in Christ. This Lent as well as the rest of the year and till the time you die, are gifts from God for our renewal and for our preparation to meeting Him with confidence. It is a time of refreshing, a time to get re-acquainted with the Father, so that, His face can shine on us. Through these disciplines, the Holy Spirit will cause us to remember whose we are and how much God really loves us. He will remind us of the fact that we have been called and redeemed to enjoy and serve Christ and none else.
• The Rt. Rev’d (Dr.) Felix Orji, OSB. Is the Diocesan Bishop Anglican Diocese of the West and Coordinating Bishop of CONNAM).