Experience the Lent Companion By Gary G. Hoag

An Invitation to Experience the Lent Companion 

I want to invite you to journey with me from Ash Wednesday to Easter with Lent Companion.

Whether you are familiar with Lent or not, let me offer a backstory to the tradition to encourage you to make Lent part of your walk with Jesus.

Focus of Lent

Lent is a season for giving special attention to the disciplines of giving, prayer, and fasting. These three rhythms appear in the heart of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus gave the first disciples explicit instructions saying:

“When you give… when you pray… when you fast…” (see Matthew 6).

He wanted them practice these disciplines not as patterns to get human recognition but as pathways for gaining heavenly reward. This has been His desire for every disciple in history. It includes us today! But why?

When we give, pray, and fast, something happens in us. We are transformed to turn brokenness to blessing and positioned as conduits to bring the kingdom to our contexts. This explains why the early church started the tradition of Lent to make these formational rhythms part of Christian living in perpetuity.

A Significant Structure

What is the significance behind the structure of Lent? It’s about following in the footsteps of Jesus.

Lent spans the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, not counting the 7 feast days, which are Sundays, when we rest from fasting. The timeframe mirrors the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before His earthly ministry began. The 7 feast days teach us the value of rest and celebration in our spiritual journey.

A Shared Experience

Why should we go through Lent with others?

Jesus wants us to live out our faith in community. We can learn much from saints through the centuries, from contemporary voices, and from our friends when we reflect on these topics together. Also, as Lent is a long haul designed to help us learn new habits, making the journey with others helps us stay the course.

Since this resource is free, please urge your friends to download it with you. Make the journey together.

The Journey

This study has 47 daily readings designed to prepare each of us for Passion Week, the cross, and the celebration of the resurrection. Each day includes a thoughtful quote, one or more Scripture references, comments to consider in response, and often a prayer or application.

This tool will stretch your head, grip your heart, and empower your hands for generous living, giving, serving, and loving during Lent and for the rest of your life.

Walking through Lent is about setting aside our desires and stepping out of our comfort zones to take hold of the life Christ made possible for each of us on the cross.

Enjoy the adventure! Download Lent Companion today.

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Gary G. Hoag, Ph.D., serves as President & CEO of Global Trust Partners (GTP). In obedient service to Jesus Christ, GTP multiplies faithful stewards and mobilizes peer accountability groups (like ECFA in the USA) to build trust and to grow local generous giving to God’s work. Visit GTP.org to find other free resources.

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