Devotional Ideas For Lent
I'm excited about this post. One of the biggest questions I get from evangelicals (like me) who are learning about the observance of Lent for the first time is this:
What do I do?
Well, the first answer I have to that question is ask God. I don't ever want it to seem like I'm telling readers they have to start practicing their faith according to the traditional church calendar, or God is going to be mad. It's not about rules, blind legalism. That very issue started a bit of a major Reformation 500 years ago.
What I've found as I explore these church seasons is they right our focus on God. Further, I wonder sometimes if Christians who pray to God on the hour, or attend all these extra services, and bring these observances into their homes, get more of Jesus. I will not have that. I want all of Jesus I can find. So, I explore Ash Wednesday, Lent, prayers of the saints, etc.
And I love it when you want to join me! That's what I'm offering you today. I'm giving away four copies of Lenten devotionals, to provide you with reflections during this season leading up to Easter.
God For Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter - I used this book as my devotional last year, and I had my quiet time with Lauren Winner, who I already loved. I was introduced to some new favorites, Luci Shaw, James Calvin Schaap and Scott Cairns. This book is a keeper - the kind you'd happily read year after year. In addition to devotional thoughts, you learn about the church traditions surrounding this season. I have two copies of this book to give away.
Paraclete, who is partnering with me on these giveaways, is also offering an e-subscription to receive daily devotional emails from this book, if that's more your thing. Of course, enter to win the book, but you can also sign up to get the e-subscriptions for $9.99 by clicking here.
Between Midnight & Dawn: A Literary Guide to Prayer for Lent, Holy Week, and Eastertide - I'm using this collection for Lent this year. It too offers a variety of authors, but also a variety of styles. It's a compilation of older and newer works, essays, poems, book excerpts. At first glance, it's oozing with creativity and I'm excited to use this resource. I have one copy of this book to give away.
According to Your Mercy: Praying with the Psalms from Ash Wednesday to Easter - Pretty self-explanatory. What I like about this book is its brevity. You read a Psalm, there's a couple pages of reading on the context of this psalm, along with some application. You're filled up and ready for your day. I have one copy of this book to give away.
Paraclete, who is partnering with me on these giveaways, is also offering an e-subscription to receive daily devotional emails from this book, if that's more your thing. Of course, enter to win the book, but you can also sign up to get the e-subscriptions for $9.99 by clicking here.
Again, Lent starts next week with Ash Wednesday services. Forty-plus days of remembering we need a Savior. Jesus, who brought us back into right relationship with God, when we could not help ourselves. Happy reading!
I received all of these goodies from Paraclete Press in exchange for some blog posts promoting the items. These are all tremendous books, exactly the quality I’ve come to expect from Paraclete. A big thanks to them for giving me the opportunity to share them with you.