Lent (Day Two): Charity and Prayer - Matthew 6:1-6

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The season of Lent is when we focus on repentance.

 Repentance means turning back to God and placing our lives under God’s power and direction.  It means conforming our minds and hearts to those of Jesus.  Repentance is about knowing and acting on truth—the truth about ourselves (that we sin and always are in need of grace) and the truth about God (that God always loves us and is eager to forgive us when we come back to him).  

 During Lent there are three primary ways that we redirect our lives toward God.  Jesus describes them in Matthew’s Gospel: Almsgiving (what we would call charitable giving), prayer, and fasting (we will focus on fasting in tomorrow's post from Matthew 6:6-21).

During Lent, we begin a practice of daily prayer if we don’t have one already.  Or we deepen our existing prayer life.  We also find ways to begin giving to others or offering additional acts of charity if we’re already engaged in sharing our resources.  

 Prayer redirects us toward loving God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.

 Charitable giving redirects us to loving our neighbor as ourselves.  

 These two return us to living the greatest commandment: love of God and neighbor.

 As we direct ourselves towards God during Lent, how might you deepen your prayer life? How can we help you take the next step in your devotional life and love of God?

 And how can you give more generously of your resources during Lent? How can you make your giving a true act of charity - of sharing your love with your neighbor? 

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