Lent 2015: Ideas for Taking Up or Laying Down

It seems so often that Lent is a popular time to "diet for Jesus." If you are considering laying something down or taking something up during Lent, I encourage you to choose something that will benefit you spiritually--not just something that will help you lose a few pounds (although physical health may be an added bonus). The point of taking up or laying down during Lent is that we use this 40 day season to spend more time thinking about and connecting with God--we choose practices that will help us do that. Lent is not about giving up things that we don't enjoy anyway or giving up things just to practice giving something up. Lent is different than a New Year's (self-improvement) Resolution--but we trust that our Lenten season, spent in deliberate communion with God, will reap unimagined benefits!

Ideas:


Things to lay down:

• TV (or certain shows)
• the radio (all the time, certain times of the day, etc.)
• favorite foods (pizza, ice cream, etc.)
• eating out
• alcohol
• soft drinks/caffeine/coffe
• clutter
• debt (using credit cards)
• certain books/magazines
• social media (facebook, twitter, myspace, etc.)
• computer/internet
• phone/tablet/computer games
• negativity/stress
• gossip
• road rage
• lying
• swearing/foul language
• addictions
• procrastination
• working overtime (unnecessarily)
• anything that occupies too much of your time/attention that could be better spent

Things to take up:

• personal prayer/devotion time
• praying with family
• quiet time/silence
• exersize
• making time for spouse/children
• sacrificing for spouse/children
• affirming those around you (daily or weekly)
• being a better friend
• staying positive
• volunteering
• good works (feeding hungry, visiting sick, etc.)
• tithing
• getting enough sleep
• being on time 
• sunup fasting (eating nothing during daylight hours)
• scripture reading/study
• any of the "pauses" outlined in the book Sacred Pauses: Spiritual Practices for Personal Renewal by April Yamasaki (creating space, slowing down, becoming quiet, engaging scripture, praying it like it is, getting outside, being alone, valuing relationships, giving, praying the Lord's Prayer, making music, fasting, having fun, paying attention, confessing, praying Scripture, living simply)
• anything that will help you be more mindful of God's work and presence in the world