Each week AFL posts an Anglicans in Action video, which gives practical suggestions, resources, and ideas for life-ministry. This week’s focus is on life-affirming ideas you can do during Lent. You can see all the Anglicans in Action videos on our YouTube Channel.
This week marks the beginning of Lent, the 40 days of preparation before Easter. Each year, I’m sure you hear the question: “What are you giving up for Lent?” As Christians, we are given an intentional time where the call as a community is to deepen our spiritual lives through the practices of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. The belief is that our consistent participation in these practices — like exercise, as we do for our physical health — improves our spiritual well-being by stripping away all that is unnecessary and becoming more mindful of how God is working in our lives.
My challenge to you this year is to go beyond the usual practice of “giving something up.” Now is a great time to grow in a passion that the Lord has placed on your heart and do something that has eternal impact! I know it can be difficult and time-consuming to come up with practical ideas, so Anglicans for Life has developed a few life-affirming recommendations:
1, as you may have seen on our social media postings, the 40 Days for Life Spring campaign has started. The goal of 40 Days for Life is to cooperate with God in carrying out His plan to end abortion. It draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of three main points: prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach. If your time is limited but you still like this mission, consider giving up your Saturday mornings during the campaign, and committing that time to be involved in a way that glorifies the Lord through your specific gifts and talents. Visit their website, 40daysforlife.org, and pray about participating in the campaign!
Two, use money that you were to spend at Starbucks every day (or whatever your daily guilty pleasure is) and put it in a jar – before Easter, gift those funds to a local pregnancy center or pro-life ministry, like Anglicans for Life, that spends every day fighting the abortion epidemic. Your sacrifice will bless others immensely.
Three, Pray AFL’s prayer for life each day! This prayer is posted at the bottom of each page on our website (just scroll to the bottom of this page). Pray it daily throughout Lent and see how God creatively answers your prayer to be an agent of life. I love that prayer is our greatest resource as followers of Jesus.
Please know that my prayer is that this season of Lent would bring you closer to God, the Creator of all life, and stir in you a desire to know Him more. It is through our relationship with Him that we will be able to continue life-affirming ministry. Thank you for your investment in the lives that He cares for!
