What do people give up in Lent ?
Lent this year has started (since Ash Wednesday on 26th February) and will end on 9th April.
So what is the purpose of Lent ? The main purpose is to prepare ourselves for Easter celebration by reflecting, seeking for forgiveness, doing penance, and purifying our soul. It tests our perseverance in the same way Jesus suffered and sacrificed for 40 days in the desert. During Lent we fast, we give, read Bible, and pray more.
Are there any rules of Lent ? If we cannot fast or give up for 40 days then the main thing we do is to stay away from eating meat (and any items made of meat except fish) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays during Lent period.
What do people do in Lent ? Every year we think of something we want to give up in Lent. As the purpose of Lent is to sacrifice and seek for forgiveness, we should give up something we normally do or like for pleasures and by giving it up in the next 40 days it actually benefits us, family or people surrounding us, and the world if we want to bring it to the next level.
What do people give up for Lent ? Below are some of the Lent ideas you can try :
- Give up certain foods, such as meats or animal protein, sugary foods, soda drink, carbs, and so on. You can get as creative as you want. This year I give up eating animal protein for 40 days. In our family we have person fast by only eating one meal per day, some only eat low GI foods, some do not eat bread, another uncle gives up coffee
- Give up certain bad habits. Smoking, gossiping, drinking alcohol, swearing, phone/Facebook/social media time at night, TV time, and many other ideas you can think of.
- Give up money by doing more Charity works and donation.
- Give up lavish spending on unnecessary things
- Give up your time to God. Spend 30 minutes a day for praying or reading devotional
- Give gratitude, smile, comfort and positive attitude to certain numbers of people a day. You will make everyone around you feel better.
- Give up watching movies, or other entertainments
- Give up makeup for ladies
- Give up playing games
- and so much more.
Hope the above gives you some ideas. So, what do you give up for Lent this year ? You can decide what to give or to give up, whichever brings love and positive result for you, your family, and make the world around you better is a good decision. And of course never forget to pray and spend more time with God. All the best !!