This season’s focus—Pause to Reflect—prepares our hearts, spirits, and minds to experience the death and resurrection of Christ. 

“While other world views lead us to sit in the midst of life’s joys, foreseeing the coming sorrows, Christianity empowers its people to sit in the midst of this world’s sorrows, tasting the coming joy.”

Timothy Keller (2008). The reason for God:
Belief in an age of skepticism. Dutton.

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
Proverbs 27:19 NIV

Some years I find myself caught in a whirlwind of holiday chaos. My calendar overflows with events, parties, shopping, and travel. November and December can be filled from Thanksgiving until the New Year with the pressure to create the perfect season, leaving me tired, breathless, and sometimes with a little more debt and a few more pounds than I had before.

I can’t help but wonder, am I missing the meaning behind the celebrations.

In stark contrast, the weeks of Lent leading up to Resurrection Sunday—more commonly referred to as Easter—invites me to a much slower, more reflective pace.

If I choose to embrace it.

Depending on our faith background, denomination, or tradition, we may incorporate various spiritual practices into our daily observance of Lent, or we might ignore the season all together. But if we long for a more robust relationship with our Heavenly Father, we should seek the former, rather than the latter.

Lent calls us to slow down, to breathe deeply, and to realign our hearts with what truly matters. Unlike the hurried pace of year-end celebrations, Lent offers a sacred space to step away from the noise, to seek God with renewed focus, and to allow Him to refine us in the quiet.

Whether through fasting, prayer, acts of service and giving, or sacramental observances, Lent provides an opportunity to consider the posture of our hearts. As we strip away distractions and walk a path of surrender, we then look toward the joy of Resurrection Sunday. As we choose reflection over routine, intention over impulse, and renewal over the rush, we find that what we often seek in the frenzy of the holidays—peace, meaning, and deep joy—has been waiting for us all along in the stillness of His presence.

Spiritual application 

1. What distractions or habits might you need to set aside in order to deepen your relationship with Christ?
2. Where can you intentionally slow down and create space for God during this Lenten season?
3. In what ways can you allow the journey of Lent to prepare your heart for the joy and hope of Resurrection Sunday?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Heavenly Father, You are the One who calls me to slow down and quietly enter Your Presence. You ask to interrupt my harried routines, and invite me to reflect on the death, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus. As I do so, reveal to me the places in my heart and life that do not reflect You. Transform me to bear the likeness of Jesus instead.
Amen.

Journal prompt

Set aside time each day to pause and reflect on where you are in your spiritual walk. Invite God to reveal areas where you need growth, repentance, or healing. In the space provided, write down the ways this daily practice of pausing can help you reset your heart and mind, then pray over them throughout the month.

Activity

Designate a small area in your home for quiet reflection during Lent. The space could include a Bible and other devotionals, scented candles, a favorite journal, some type of art—anything that helps center your thoughts on Christ’s work. The area is a physical reminder to pause each day, reflect, and pray.

Some Scriptures to reflect on during the Lent season:

• John 14:15-18
• Psalm 51:10-13
• Joel 2:12-13

Scriptures

Week 1

Heavenly Father, when _____ goes without food so she can pray better, let her not act like those who pretend to be someone they are not, making herself look sad so people will see she are going with out food. When she goes without food so she can pray better, may she instead fix her hair and wash her face so noone knows she is going without food. Then You Who sees in secret will reward her.

From Matthew 6:16-18 NLV

Week 2

Heavenly Father, You call _____ to repent sincerely and return to You with fasting and weeping and mourning. Let her broken heart show her sorrow—any outward display is not enough. May she come back to You because You are kind and full of mercy; You are patient and keep Your promise; You are always ready to forgive her and not punish her.

From Joel 2:12-13 GNT

Week 3

Heavenly Father, when Your Son, Jesus, was executed on the cross as a criminal, _____ was too; so that her proud ego no longer lives. Now Jesus lives in her, and the life she now lives, she  lives by the same trusting faithfulness that Jesus had, who loved her and gave himself up for her.

From Galatians 2:20 CJB

Week 4

Heavenly Father, when the tempter comes to _____, let her answer as Jesus did, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

From Matthew 4:3 NIV

Week 5

Heavenly Father, lead _____ to humble herself under Your mighty power, because at the right time You will lift her up in honor. Help her to give You all her worries and cares, since You care so much about her.

From 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV