It is hard to believe it is February already. Lent is just a few weeks away, and just a few weeks ago we rang in the New Year and made our New Year’s resolutions. How are you doing keeping them?

Many of those resolutions probably sounded like – “ I am going to exercise more and lose those 10lbs I need to lose.” Or “ I am going to find more time to spend with family and friends” or “ I am going to get more involved in my church or community” or “ I am going to take that vacation with my wife we keep putting off”. Most New Year’s resolutions are honorable. They are usually about doing those things which will make us happier, healthier and better people. However, New Year's resolutions never seem to work, no matter how noble their intent. Have you ever asked why they so often fail? Could it be that God was left out of this plan?

As we approach Lent, I would like for each of us to do it with a slightly different attitude. When we speak about Lent we often speak of giving something up or taking something else on. This Lenten season I would like us to focus on prayer – the kind of prayer that gives us courage to do what we believe we need to do. Our challenge this Lent is to not to give up on our New Year’s resolutions, but to succeed in keeping them with God’s help. I want you to write your resolutions down and put them in your bedside table, wallet, journal, etc. Put this list where you have access and won’t forget it, and then twice a day I want you to take that list out and ask God to help give you the strength to keep them.

Lent is about intentionally being involved in a discipline that brings us to a closer relationship with God. What better way to strengthen that relationship than by taking our New Year’s resolution and turning them into Lenten resolution and relying on God to help us.

Mother Kat