I found a great devotion by Brian Prior and I would like to share a piece of it with you.
One of the primary opportunities Lent provides for us is a time of self-examination. This is a time to take an honest look at our lives and to discern what is helping us to grow in our faith and what is holding us back. It may be the perfect time to discern what we leave and what we take, what gets done and what is left undone. Those choices will ultimately show where the real treasures lie.
He included some scripture from Matthew 6. Verses 1-4, "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” And verses 19-21,"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
It is important to remember that whatever you are doing for Lent, you should be doing it for yourself and strengthening your relationship with Christ, regaining focus on what He has done for us. To me, the giving up or letting go of something has always served as a reminder. When I am tempted, I should think of why I have sacrificed whatever it is.
I chose to give up Facebook this year simply because it is a distraction. I probably won't be tempted to activate my account, but I will be more productive on a daily basis. (Well, now I have this blog, but at least it forces me to reflect on more important things!) I am giving up some type of food each week because it will be a bit more of a temptation and something I will have to confront every day.
I hope everyone has a chance to spend some time to deeply reflect and talk to God today. If you haven't seen the movie, Passion of the Christ, I recommend it! It will provide you with a visual you cannot forget.
