Hebrews 12:2 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting 40 days (not including Sundays) until Easter, involves six weeks of self-examination, reflection, and penance. Lent reminds us of the suffering and sacrifice that Jesus faced and made for us on the cross. The focus on practicing discipline, repenting sin, and consecrating oneself to God during the season of Lent enables us to strengthen our faith and develop a closer relationship with God.

Lent should not be used for personal gain; applying self-denial and spiritual discipline should be the intent of giving something up, not, for example, losing weight. In addition, one should not boast his or her sacrifice to gain the approval of others or of God Himself.

Matthew 6:1-2 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people in order to be noticed by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow a trumpet before you like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they will be praised by people. I tell all of you with certainty, they have their full reward!

For Lent I am giving up.

In a society that glorifies pessimism and self-deprecating humor, I've heard this statement said by many people, including myself, as a joke. However, after thinking about this statement and the meaning of Lent, I decided that I am giving up for Lent.

I am giving up myself; submitting myself to God. I am setting my mind on what is above, and not on earthly desires. Thinking that I know what is best for myself has led me down some cloudy paths where I lost focus on what is right. Recently, I have come to the realization that what I need right now is to focus on God's path for me, not my own path. I need to dedicate myself to knowing and following His plans for me.

Luke 22:42 Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.

To dedicate a life to God isn't to live a perfect life without sin, but to actively try to resist sin. It is to practice self-control and discipline daily. The season of Lent reminds us of what our focuses as Christians should be not just during Lent, but throughout our lives.

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

I am not saying it is bad to give up certain foods or habits for Lent. I have done it in the past. Some years it helped me grow as a person and in my faith, but my motives were not always right. I was going through the motions of doing what I was expected to do as a Christian. I used Lent as a time to focus on myself rather than God.

For Lent, I am giving up. I am letting go and letting God. I am taking up my cross as we are all expected to do. I am sharing this to remind others of the sacrifice that Jesus made, and to reevaluate our motives for what we give up. Are we doing it with the intent of growing in our faith, or just because it is what we are supposed to do? Are we trying to increase or worldly pleasures, or are we truly practicing religious discipline? Whether or not you give something up for Lent, use it as a time to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. It is through faith that we are saved. Use the start of Lent as an initiative to ask God to guide you, for to be disciples of Christ Jesus is to deny ourselves and to take up our own crosses, not just during Lent, but every day.

1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.