How to Fail at Lent

My Lenten discipline was not much of a secret this year. I used my determination to actually read my Bible intentionally on a daily basis not only to encourage others but to keep myself accountable. If no one knew, it probably wouldn't have happened. In the past I've been able to stay pretty disciplined on my own about not eating sweets or whatever (and I've done some pretty bizarre things for Lent before!), but getting up early to set aside time for Jesus just isn't my style! Selfishly sleeping in totally is, though. Just telling people that I was going to read all 4 Gospels during Lent was enough to keep me going. No one asked me every day, "Did you read?" but they might have. They might have.

That's not really why I did it though. I've been dying to get closer to my Savior on a personal level. I had to make it happen.

So I found a reading "plan" on some pastor or someone's blog, and I stuck to the schedule every day. I don't think I missed a single day, believe it or not. Even if I miss a day (maybe I forgot that it happened?), I know I was able to make it up quickly, because I never got behind.

And when I got pretty close to Easter, I realized I still had almost half the book of John to read. The schedule stopped at chapter 13 within a matter of days. There are 21 chapters in John.

I failed. The schedule I found online failed me. I did not finish the four Gospels in 40 days. I'm sorry, Jesus.

That's not the important thing, though. In fact, I succeeded. I got into the habit of reading my Bible daily, and I have every intention of continuing that habit, even though it means dragging my weary butt out of bed half an hour earlier. I will eventually finish John, and I will start other books of the Bible after that.

Fasting during Lent isn't always a fast. In my case, it was only a fast of time, of sleep. But I thank God for giving me the strength to pursue him, and I also thank him for letting me fail. This is not a victory of mine, but of God's. If I can give him power over my life and soul, I think he should be allowed to have power over my daily schedule.

I'll fail at this again, I know. Thank God that he will help me succeed again later.


God bless.