The Journey of Surrender: Embracing the Heart of Lent

A Sacred Season of Spiritual Renewal

Beloved friends in Christ, Lent is not just a season on the liturgical calendar—it’s an invitation. An invitation to reflect, release, and return. It is a 40-day journey that calls us to pause from the noise of life and lean into the presence of the Lord. Lent leads us by the hand to the foot of the Cross and challenges us to look inward so that God may do a new work within.

This season isn’t about performing rituals or simply giving up coffee or sweets. It is about the discipline of devotion, the power of repentance, and the freedom of surrender. As we journey together through Lent, we’re not just walking toward Easter; we’re walking toward transformation.

The Word of God in Joel 2:12-13 (NASB) reminds us:

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping, and mourning;
And tear your heart and not merely your garments.”
Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in mercy
And relenting of catastrophe.

Let’s explore four spiritual truths that help us walk through Lent with intention and impact.

1. Returning to the Heart of Worship

Lent reminds us to return—not just in motion, but in devotion. Many of us have drifted without realizing it. Life gets full. Priorities get shifted. Our worship becomes routine rather than relational. But the Lord doesn’t call us to outward performance; He calls us to inward transformation.

🪧 Action Step: Take time each morning this week to pray without asking—just listening. Worship Him for who He is, not just for what He does. Let your heart reconnect with God beyond routine.

🧠 Think of it like a GPS rerouting a trip. God doesn’t cancel the destination; He simply redirects you to your original course of worship.

2. Releasing What Hinders the Soul

Fasting is not just about subtracting food—it’s about subtracting distractions. Whether it's technology, negative thinking, bitterness, or busyness, Lent calls us to lay aside every weight that clutters the soul. What we lay down should make more room for Jesus.

🪧 Action Step: Choose one thing this week that competes for your spiritual attention and fast from it. Replace it with time in the Word or service to others.

🧠 Imagine your soul like a garden. If you don't pull the weeds, they choke the fruit. Fasting is spiritual weeding—it makes room for growth.

3. Repenting and Receiving God’s Mercy

The Lenten journey is a call to repentance—not in shame, but in grace. Repentance isn’t about guilt; it’s about alignment. It means turning from sin and returning to the embrace of God’s mercy. And oh, what mercy He has! God isn’t waiting with a wagging finger. He’s waiting with open arms.

🪧 Action Step: Spend 10 minutes in personal reflection. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything in your heart that needs to be surrendered. Write it down, confess it to God, and thank Him for His mercy.

🧠 Think of repentance as a U-turn. God doesn’t hold your wrong turn against you—He just rejoices when you come back home.

4. Renewing the Mind and the Mission

Lent is also about renewal—not just of spirit, but of purpose. As we approach the Resurrection celebration, God wants to reignite your calling, restore your joy, and reawaken your mission. Lent clears the fog and refocuses the vision.

🪧 Action Step: Write down your “why”—why you follow Jesus, why you serve, why you worship. Let that “why” become your fuel as you move through the rest of this season.

🧠 Think of renewal like spring cleaning. The more you remove what doesn’t belong, the more you recognize what still matters.

Conclusion: Embrace the Journey

Church family, Lent is more than preparation for Easter—it is preparation for personal resurrection. It is a sacred journey that leads us out of the wilderness of weariness and into the garden of grace. It reminds us that while we may be dust, we are dust touched by the breath of God.

Let this season be a divine disruption that recalibrates your walk and reignites your faith.