Prepare for Easter

Easter is Sunday, April 20, 2025, and we cannot wait to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, the holiest day on the Christian calendar, with you! 

To prepare our hearts for Easter, we encourage you to participate in the 40 days, not counting Sundays, leading up to Easter known as Lent. 

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5th, and ends on Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025. The 40 days represent the days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan to prepare for his ministry (Matt. 4:1-11). Lent allows us to examine our sins and brokenness to experience the depth of God’s love. This examination is not meant to lead to self-centeredness, but instead, to point us to our deep need for a Savior. We are to pray, as David did:

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! - Ps. 139:23-24

Lent allows us to examine our discipleship as well as focus our attention and affections on Christ. We ask ourselves: 

  • Am I truly following Christ wherever He leads us? (Matt. 8:18-22; Matt. 10:37) 

  • Am I relying on my comforts to fill voids in my life that only Christ is meant to fill? 

  • What have I been turning to for fulfillment instead of Christ? 

There are a variety of ways that people can use Lent to commune with Jesus more intimately. It’s a practice of “putting off” ways of living that have been distracting us so that we can begin “putting on” more of Christ. 

Ephesians 4:22-24: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Some things you might consider “putting off” are: 

  • Social media

  • Certain foods* *If you have a history of an eating disorder or food issues, please seek a medical professional before fasting from food. 

  • TV

  • Streaming services (Netflix, YouTube, etc.)

  • Alcohol 

  • Dining out

  • Soda or sugary drinks

  • Coffee or caffeine 

  • Shopping for non-essentials 

  • Negative self-talk

  • Gossip or unnecessary criticism 

Some things you might consider “putting on” to deepen your relationship with Christ are: 

  • Daily prayer and Bible reading

  • Confession and repentance 

  • Volunteering or acts of service

  • Writing down daily gratitudes 

  • Attending church every Sunday during Lent

  • Reaching out to someone new each week 

  • Memorizing Scripture 

  • Listening only to worship music 

  • Financially supporting someone in need 

What resonates with you most this year? Is there someone a part of the family of God who can participate in Lent with you for encouragement and accountability?

Upon the conclusion of Lent, we celebrate Easter and are reminded of the joyous hope and new life we have through Christ’s victory over death! Lord Jesus, help us prepare for this celebration together! 

The Chosen

“Watch one episode of The Chosen (Seasons 1-4) each day of Lent (except for Saturday, Sabbath!) and this schedule will carry us from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week. Join me in this Lent practice for 2025!” - Annie F. Downs