Just as the seasons mark the earth’s changing soul, Christian festivals honouring Christ witness His Passion and resurrection. The cycle begins at Advent and continues through Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ascension. These spiritual rhythms are lived through sacred practices woven into human life. Christians weave their redemptive life into the year’s rhythm and Christ’s Passion, especially during Easter.

Lent is a penitential period likely rooted in the baptismal rituals of catechumens before Easter. The duration of fasting varied by region. Irenaeus (AD 180) noted different lengths of fasts. Tertullian (AD 200) said Catholics fasted two days, while Montanists fasted longer. The number forty, tied to the fasts of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, eventually influenced the set 40-day period. The Canons of Nicaea (AD 325) first mention 40 days of fasting.

Many Christians observe Lent to prepare for Easter, finding benefit in prayer, sacrifice, and simplicity. Liturgically, Lent runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday evening, which marks the start of the Easter Triduum and ends with the evening prayer of Easter Day.

The authentic purpose of Lent starts with Christ as a season of fasting, self-denial, spiritual growth, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime, can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him. As you enter this season, intentionally assess your life and actively commit to practices—such as repentance and self-examination—that draw you closer to Christ. In so doing, you will participate more deeply in the meaning of Lent, both as part of your community and in your personal transformation. Remember, Lenten disciplines are meant to transform your entire person: body, soul, and spirit. Take this opportunity to choose a discipline, practice it daily, and let it guide you toward becoming more like Christ. Lent is one of the best evangelistic opportunities in Christian mission; make the conscious choice to use this season for renewal and witness.

Lent traditionally involves fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, each with a long history. Reading Scripture and Church writings also supports growth during Lent. Let’s examine these individually.

Lent is an ideal time to develop or deepen prayer routines. The Liturgy of the Hours, praying throughout the day, is a good start. Aim for daily Morning and Evening Prayer. If you already do this, add noon or night prayer. Contemplative prayer, which focuses on silence and listening, suits the season of Lent. Many forms of prayer reflect the penitential mood of Lent.

The Lenten season provides a missional opportunity and sober responsibility to pray for Nigeria, regardless of our denominational differences, which is one of the legions of prayer obstacles. Nigeria, after 66 years of independence, has become a paradox: a nation rich in resources but poor in management. Hence, every family is now becoming a Local Government, generating its own electricity, water, security, education, and other essentials of life. People are finding it difficult to distinguish true values from false ones. There is no doubt that Nigeria is at a crossroads that will ultimately lead to national resurrection if only we can be united in our prayers. Prayer can change human nature and make sinners into saints. Prayer brings heaven to earth. It fights vices and fosters virtue. Just as Hannah discovered that prayer opened the way for God to work in her life, effective and united prayers can pour out the delights of heaven on Nigeria and its peoples (1 Sam 1:19-20).

Just as in other biblical prophecies, God has foretold Nigeria’s leadership and management crisis, ‘her princes (leaders/managers) in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy; yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none. Therefore, have I poured out mine indignation upon them, I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath; their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God’ (Ezekiel 22: 27-31).

Prayer for Nigeria through this season is more than a petition. It is fellowship and communion. Dr W. E Sangster provides a helpful reflection on the necessity and path to effective prayers. According to him, ‘Education and character are not given simply. They are acquired by cooperation. They are the fine fruit of fellowship and interaction of minds. So, it is with God. To cease to pray because God loves you and will consistently seek your good, is to keep on the lower levels and miss the partnership by which alone you can receive the finest things God has to give.’ God is seeking intercessors to partner with Him for our national renewal. The highest calling of leadership is growth and development of the people. This season is a prayerful opportunity to pray for a leader who knows the way, can go the way and can show the way. We prayerfully need leaders grounded in ethics, a morality of spending resources more carefully without corruption, and compassion for the poor.

Fasting: Fasting during the Lenten season goes beyond denominational or official requirements. However, when we “give something up” for Lent, especially in the Western context, we are embracing a form of fasting, an excellent spiritual discipline. Eastern and African Christians observe a more rigorous fast, abstaining from meat, wine, oil, and dairy products, among other things. Lent is a call to give up sins (gossip, drunkenness, etc). In this way, Lent represents a period of spiritual training to overcome evil. Lent is a call to give up inordinate desires. By giving these up, the person fasting learns to control a particular part of their life, which leads to greater self-discipline even after Lent is over. As such, in Lent we can learn, examine, and get under control our material excesses. Whatever you decide to fast from, remember, as Steven Clark likes to say: “Lent is more than a diet.” Lent is about spiritual results, not material ones. So, while losing a few pounds may be a nice side benefit, all fasting should be done for God’s glory and spiritual growth.

Charity:  While Lent is also about giving something up (i.e. fasting), it is also about putting something positive in its place. The best way to remove vice is to cultivate virtue. Lent has been a traditional time of helping the poor and doing acts of charity and mercy. While, as Christians, this is a year-round calling, Lent is a good time to examine ways to get involved and make resolutions to actually do so. Giving alms can be done in more ways than just giving out money to people on the street. It can be done by helping your family, friends, and neighbours out of tight situations or by being more generous to hired help. However, one of the best ways to give alms is to step out of your comfort zone a bit, maybe by volunteering at a charity or a shelter.

The greatest obstacle to Christ living in us is self-love. This inordinate self-love can block the love of God and may even destroy it. Self-love is making Nigeria more individualistic, eroding our community and cultural bonds. In the form of religious or societal honours and concern for personal dignity, self-love disrupts national, cultural, and denominational actions, especially when directed toward personal satisfaction rather than God. Lent offers a sober opportunity to overcome this disease spreading through our national and inner life. To do so, examine your motives and actions, and seek ways to put others first. Practice humility, generosity, and repentance daily. Use Lent to break self-centred patterns and renew love for God and neighbour. Each week, commit to a specific act of charity or self-sacrifice to embody Lent’s spirit.

Scripture Reading:  No factor is more influential in shaping a person’s moral life and social behaviour than regular reading of the Bible. John Blanchard, in his book ‘How to Enjoy Your Bible,’ cited Jerry Bridges statement that, ‘reading gives breath, but study gives us depth.’ When facing temptation in the desert, Jesus relied on Scripture to counter the wiles of the devil. It is a formidable weapon for us as well. Biblical illiteracy among Christians of all types is rampant and, quite honestly, shameful. Lent is an excellent time to remedy this problem. One way to read Scripture is to use the Reading the Bible in a Year timetable.

Let me conclude by sharing four ways in which we can make Lent truly a time of witnessing by using one idea of each letter of the word LENT:

Liberty: Lent is a time of sober and social responsibility ‘to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound’ … ‘to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke’ (Isaiah 61:1, 58:6) Pleasing God by setting the captives free is more than what we do not eat or do not do. It is what we do for God and others. Lent is a time to proclaim deliverance of Nigeria from our self-made exile. Many are conquered and oppressed by poor leadership and false values. Lent is a time to fulfil the scripture by pointing people to Jesus, the only One who can liberate (Luke 4:18).

Evangelism: Lent is a time to evangelise the nation by pointing people to Jesus’ power of resurrection. Lent provides a missional opportunity to use every medium to evangelise. You can use your Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter updates to be open about your faith. If you find it difficult to witness in person, use the internet and cell phone to tell people about your faith in Christ without having to look anyone in the eye.

Non-Christian: Lent is one of the best times to share the gospel with non-Christians in offices, motor parks, petrol stations, shopping centres, etc. It only takes simple courage to say to the next person in the queue next to you, ‘What plans do you have to celebrate Lent/Easter this year? The question can be turned back to you, and you can weave in your answer that Lent/Easter would not be Easter without Jesus’ resurrection.

Testimony: Lent is the easiest time of the year to drop a slice of testimony into conversation with Christian and non-Christians. Testimony about Jesus, who died, rose again, and ascended to heaven to prepare a place for those who believe in him, will go a long way toward saving souls. Lent would not be Lent for you and me without testifying about your Saviour.

Happy mission Lent.