Doll Can Create

Reflecting on the 6-Week Lenten Journey

As I look back on the past six weeks, I’m filled with a sense of gratitude and spiritual growth. Lent is often seen as a season of sacrifice. In reality, it has been a time of deep reflection. It has also been a time of surrender and renewal. Throughout this journey, I’ve had the opportunity to embrace the disciplines of prayer. I’ve also embraced fasting and service. Throughout this time, I’ve been trusting more fully in God’s plan for my life.

Each week brought a new focus. There was a fresh theme to ponder. It offered a chance to dive deeper into the heart of what this season is all about. From the start, I understood it wasn’t just about giving something up. It was about creating space for God to move and transform my heart. The weeks unfolded with lessons on patience, trust, forgiveness, creativity, and ultimately, the powerful hope of resurrection.

In this post, I want to share a reflection on my Lenten journey. I will recount the themes that guided me each week. I will also share the ways in which they shaped my faith. Whether you joined me during this season or are discovering these insights now, I hope this retrospective offers a glimpse. It delves into the deep spiritual work. I want to convey the significant impact of this journey. It shows what God can do. This happens when we commit to a season of intentional devotion.

Week 1: Preparation and Reflection

• Focus: Setting the tone for Lent with intention, sacrifice, and spiritual renewal.
• Key Topics:
  • Introduction to Lent and its purpose.
  • Understanding fasting and prayer as tools for spiritual growth.
  • Cultivating gratitude and trust in God.
  • Reflection on setting a personal spiritual goal for the season.

Week 2: Trust and Sacrifice

• Focus: Strengthening faith through trust in God’s provision and sacrifices.
• Key Topics:
  • Learning to trust God’s timing and plan.
  • Exploring the deeper meaning of sacrifice in daily life.
  • Overcoming distractions and deepening prayer practices.
  • Serving others as an act of worship and showing humility.

Week 3: Patience and Endurance

• Focus: Developing perseverance, patience, and endurance in faith.
• Key Topics:
  • Embracing the daily disciplines of prayer, scripture, and quiet reflection.
  • Reflecting on repentance and turning back to God.
  • Practicing patience in life’s challenges and finding peace in waiting.
  • Generosity and releasing fear in relationships.

Week 4: Forgiveness and Renewal

• Focus: Fostering forgiveness and embracing the renewal of spirit.
• Key Topics:
  • Understanding the power of forgiveness and grace.
  • Renewing faith in times of struggle and difficulty.
  • Surrendering control and learning to trust fully in God’s will.
  • Letting go of burdens and embracing peace.

Week 5: Creativity and Surrender

• Focus: Connecting faith with creativity and deepening trust through surrender.
• Key Topics:
  • The connection between faith and creativity, finding God in your work.
  • Silence, solitude, and rest as spiritual practices.
  • Honoring commitments to God and others.
  • Surrendering control and trusting in God’s direction.

Week 6: Holy Week and Resurrection

• Focus: Reflecting on the journey to the cross and the hope of resurrection.
• Key Topics:
  • Preparing for Holy Week and reflecting on the humility of Christ.
  • The significance of Good Friday and the suffering of Christ.
  • The quietness of Holy Saturday and waiting in hope.
  • Celebrating the resurrection and new life that comes through Christ.

Closing Thoughts

As I think about these six weeks, I’m reminded of the power of intentional time with God. Lent has been a season of renewal, surrender, and transformation. Each week brought new insights that deepened my faith, and though the journey wasn’t always easy, it was always meaningful.

I encourage you to carry the lessons of this season onward—whether through prayer, service, or quiet reflection. The peace of Christ and the hope of the resurrection continue to guide you.

Thank you for walking this journey with me.

Pastor Barb