Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Eight years ago I published 20 Things to Give up for Lent that went viral on the internet. I would later add 20 additional items to that list, write a 40-day devotion series, and publish a best-selling self-published book based upon the 40 Things. It has been an amazing journey and I have had the privilege to interact with so many people who have been positively impacted by this series. There is a good chance that you are on my mailing list because you found me through the 40 Things.
So much has changed since I first wrote the 40 Things. The world is a different place and yet things were still the same. In 2014, Biden was not president, yet he was Obama’s Vice President. Covid was not a concern, but Ebola was in the news. Russia was center stage, not for war, but for hosting the Winter Olympics.
Things are different for the Church too. There are generally fewer people attending Sunday services. Live-streaming has become a thing. Covid has changed the way we have traditionally done things like receiving communion.
But as much has changed, things are still the same. Our God is still the same.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8, ESV)
He is still faithful. He is still loving. He is still forgiving. He is still our Heavenly Father. He is still our Savior. He is still our Helper.
Nothing has surprised him out of all that has happened. Your life may look different than it did eight years ago. I know that mine certainly does. But while all else may shift and move, he is that solid foundation that is not moved.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24, ESV)
As we begin Lent tomorrow, I want to offer you an invitation to join me in reconnecting to and reaffirming the solid foundation. The whole idea of giving up something for Lent is about setting aside “other” things so that we can make space in our lives to connect to the most important thing. And that is Jesus!
I believe that the 40 Things to Give up for Lent is just as relevant today as it was eight years ago. It is a list that was borne out of my life experience and my faith in God. I strive to let go of these 40 Things daily, but it is and will continue to be a work in progress. Some days I do better. Some days I do worse. But by the grace of God, I pray that he would help me to become more Christ-like every day.
My way of reconnecting with God this Lent season is to go back to the original list that God inspired me to write. This Lenten season, I will be writing new 40-day devotion series. It will be a new and fresh take on the same 40 Things from the original series. I plan to share a new devotion every day during Lent (except on Sundays). If you would like to receive these devotions but are not already on my mailing list, you can sign up at philressler.com/mailing-list. If you join me, my prayer is that this would be a valuable and meaningful journey not only for me but also for you.
I look forward to the updated version! I downloaded both lists and have alternated reading them during the past 8 years as I leaned so much!