When I was growing up, when this season of Lent rolled around, I started out focused. I wanted to make sure that I would abstain from something significant, that I would pray harder and try to act better in these 40 days leading up to Easter.

As I grew older and my faith journey took a different direction, I downplayed Lent. I wanted to express my freedom as one basking in God’s grace. There wer lots of times that I know that I expressed too much freedom!

After many years of observing Lent and not observing Lent, I think that the season has hit me in a strong way this year. I want God to use this time as one of renewal, self-examination, and prioritization as I ready myself for the celebrations of Good Friday and Easter.

I was reading today from John’s first letter: “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (I John 1:8-9 NLT) Like our pastor in Nashville used to talk about, you’ve got to be careful with what he called “gooey grace.” I want to not only receive his forgiveness and grace, but also run away from things that drag me down. I think Lent helps me refocus my heart’s lens.