Lent is an ancient season in the Church calendar that has been practiced as early as the second century. It’s a season of reflection, preparation, and renewal. Traditionally, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for forty days leading up to Good Friday of Holy Week (Sundays are traditionally taken off). The hope of Lent is to prepare the people of God for the truth that Easter Sunday conveys – that resurrection only happens after crucifixion.

The forty days of Lent are meant to bring about greater repentance and surrender as we remember Christ’s sacrifice. Followers of Jesus are encouraged to participate in practices like self-reflection, prayer, confession, and fasting to better commemorate and remember the purpose of this season.

Lent is a great opportunity to pause and remember the Cross during Easter season. Lent gives us the space we need to reflect on our sin, our brokenness, and that we are needy people. It also allows us to grieve the evil we experience while living in a broken world, and it points us to the unshakable truth that Jesus is the only hope for us and the world.

To be abundantly clear, practicing Lent carries no spiritual power in itself: it serves to align us with the Holy Spirit’s work within us to make us more like Jesus. This guide isn’t a spiritual “to-do” list: it’s a tool to help you follow Jesus during one of the most important seasons in the life of the Church. Please view this guide and its rhythms as invitations, not obligations. Practice Lent however you feel led, but consider giving some of the fasts a try!

The purpose of fasting is twofold. First, fasting helps us eliminate some of the noise and distraction in our lives, allowing greater intimacy for Jesus. Secondly, fasting reminds us that only Jesus truly satisfies our souls; as we abstain from different things, we recognize that those things truly don’t meet the desires of our heart. Fasting isn’t merely subtracting something lesser from our lives: it’s an opportunity to add something greater.

If you’re up for it, we encourage you to participate in a traditional “Lenten Fast,” which typically challenges that you abstain from something like food, drink, hobbies, or forms of entertainment. We’ll have weekly fasting recommendations—a mix of more traditional and more contemporary options. Or, you can also choose to fast on your own from something specific of your season, like sweets, social media, caffeine, anything!

Watch John mark comer’s take on fasting

What is our vision for Lent this year?

Lent is often about giving things up, but this guide is about waking things up. We are taking a 40-day journey through the Book of Isaiah using the five human senses. By meditating on Isaiah’s vivid imagery—like “blind eyes” or “burning coals”—we realize how sin has dulled and corrupted our spiritual senses. It’s a way to fast and pray that reveals how much every part of us—eyes, ears, and heart—needs Jesus.

This Week’s Scriptures: Wed (2/18) – Isaiah 1:16-20 | Thurs (2/19) – Psalm 51:1-12 | Fri (2/20) – Ezekiel 36:22-27 | Sat (2/21) – Revelation 21:1-5

Fast: Hobbies

A hobby is something we enjoy so much that we can lose track of time doing it. The challenge for this week is to remove a hobby you have (reading, watching sports, playing an instrument, photography, etc.), and replace that time with a prayer walk, confession, or Scripture. Hobbies can enrich us, but for these first few days of Lent, removing a normal hobby makes space in our busy lives to orient our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit for the rest of Lent.

Reflection

After reading Isaiah 1:16-20, would you say that your heart toward the Lord is one that “willingly obeys” (v. 19)? Or has your walk become one of duty rather than delight? Spend this week reflecting on the posture of your heart towards the Lord.

Prayer

Each day this week, pray a prayer of confession for areas you’re walking in duty rather than delight. Then ask the Lord, by His Spirit, to transform your heart’s posture toward His ways.

This Week’s Scriptures: Mon (2/23) – Isaiah 1:16-17 & Isaiah 6:6-7 | Tues (2/24) – Psalm 24:1-6 | Wed (2/25) – James 4:7-10 | Thurs (2/26) – 2 Samuel 22:21-25 | Fri (2/27) – Hebrews 10:19-23 | Sat (2/28) – Psalm 26

Fast: Social Media

We fight a now-constant urge to use our phones. They soothe us when we aren’t sure what to do (waiting in line, free time, etc.). For this week, let’s remove the need for a digital touch and doomscrolling, and replace with practicing more self-control in your schedule. Contribute some of that intentionally reserved time to one small tangible act of service to someone each day.

Reflection

After reading Isaiah 1:16-17, how have your hands caused you to sin against God in the last week? Spend time in reflection and confess your sins, resting in God’s eager grace.

Prayer

Each day this week, pray for freedom from the enslavement that we often have to our phones and apps. Also, pray that you would seek to honor God and love your neighbors as a witness to the Gospel in our city.

This Week’s Scriptures: Mon (3/2) – Isaiah 3:24 & Isaiah 11:3 | Tues (3/3) Ecclesiastes 10:1-4 | Wed (3/4) – Psalm 89:1-11 | Thurs (3/5) – Psalm 89:12-22 | Fri (3/6) – 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 | Sat (3/7) – John 12:1-8

Fast: Pleasant Scents (cologne, perfume, air fresheners, scented lotions, etc.)

Pleasant scents may seem like an odd fast. But for this week’s focus on the sense of smell, removing sweet fragrances allows us to reflect on the aroma our lives are giving to God and to our neighbors. It also removes the phony sense of control we believe we have and replaces it with gratitude for God’s providence.

Reflection

After reading Isaiah 3:24, are there areas in your life that aren’t a sweet aroma to God? Is anything in your life giving off a spiritually rotten smell? Spend time this week in reflection and confession; rest in God’s eager grace toward you.

Prayer

Each day this week, spend time praying for grace for the areas of your life where sin is leading to rotten fruit in your life. Then ask for power and victory over those areas to be a sweet aroma to God and the lost.

This Week’s Scriptures: Mon (3/9) – Isaiah 6:9-10 & Isaiah 42:5-7 | Tues (3/10) – Zephaniah 1:14-18 | Wed (3/11) – Psalm 146 | Thurs (3/12) – 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 | Fri (3/13) – Acts 9:1-19 & Acts 26:12-18 | Sat (3/14) – Luke 18:35-43

Fast: Streaming Services (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc.)

We are being formed by the content we consume, often for worse. Not only are we (de)formed, but we’re also distracted from the Lord and others, even our own families. By giving up streaming entertainment this week, we’re removing the distraction, while replacing it with more time with loved ones, reading a spiritual book, or choosing time of silence and reflection.

Reflection

After reading Isaiah 6:9-10, how has the content you consume distracted you from the Lord? How can some of what you watch hinder your discipleship and growth in Jesus? Spend time in reflection and confession, resting in God’s eager grace.

Prayer

Each day this week, pray for more awareness of the areas in your life where sin has blinded you to God’s Word and His ways. Ask Him for eyes to see.

This Week’s Scriptures: Mon (3/16) – Isaiah 42:18 & Isaiah 35:3-6 | Tues (3/17) – Psalm 29 | Wed (3/18) – Psalm 119:129-136 | Thurs (3/19) – Matthew 13:1-17 | Fri (3/20) – Mark 7:31-37 | Sat (3/21) – Hebrews 4:12

Fast: Music & Podcasts

Our lives are flooded with noise, much of which pulls our affections away from Jesus and dulls our ears from hearing God’s voice. This week, let’s remove the noise of music or podcasts, and replace it with extended silence or worship music—both of which are avenues to hear God’s voice.

Reflection

After reading Isaiah 42:18, would you say that God’s voice is the loudest voice in your life? Spend time in reflection and confessing, resting in God’s eager grace.

Prayer

Each day this week, pray for spiritual ears—that hear God’s voice and listen. Pray for strength to battle our enemy’s desire to dull our ears from hearing the Lord.

This Week’s Scriptures: Mon (3/23) – Isaiah 55:1-3 | Tues (3/24) – Psalm 145:14-21 | Wed (3/25) – Psalm 16 | Thurs (3/26) – John 4:1-15 | Fri (3/27) – John 6:25-71 | Sat (3/28) – Philippians 3:8-11

Fast: Food (a meal a day, as you are able)

Eating each day reminds of our spiritual hunger that can only be satisfied in knowing God and delighting in His Word. For this week, remove a physical meal each day (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) and replace with extended time for prayer or Scripture, knowing the Jesus is the bread of life for your hungry soul.

Reflection

After reading Isaiah 55:1-2, what do you run to for satisfaction and fulfillment outside of Jesus? Spend time in reflection and confession, resting in God’s eager grace, and His ability to satisfy the deepest longings of your heart.

Prayer

Each day this week, pray for your heart would find its treasure and joy in Jesus above all else. And for greater faith in that Jesus is enough.