40 Days of Decrease: A Lenten Journey

Lent begins soon. Are you preparing to engage with Jesus during Lent 2022? I am. I’m planning 40 days of decrease.

I had hoped I’d have my own Lenten devotional ready for you this year, but that plan didn’t come to fruition. However, the Lord in all this divine intervention provided a different Lenten journey for this year. Maybe you’ll join me.

Decluttering Journey

As you know, my husband and I have been on a decluttering journey for almost three years. We’ve gotten rid of a lot of old junk, old, worn-out flooring, deck, furniture, clothes, etc. And we’ve brought in some new to replace the old. But we’ve had to make some space first.

We’re still on the decluttering journey and expect to tackle our garage just as soon as spring brings warmer temperatures so we can work in our unheated garage. I’ll just say that working in sub-zero temperatures doesn’t produce a good-working environment. We wouldn’t get much accomplished with frozen fingers and toes.

The Value of Decrease

It’s been a rough winter and a tough February, but I think Jesus wants us to seek Him in new, deeper, and more personal ways, especially in the rough and tough times. He wants to restore us, make us strong, firm, and steadfast. He wants to prepare us to be His mighty people.

One way He does that is through decrease. It’s a new concept perhaps, but in the last three years, I’ve learned much about the value of decrease, and letting go rather than increasing and taking on more. 

Have you considered decreasing to declutter your soul?

What does Jesus want to communicate to us through decrease? In what ways might we change through decrease? Can we grow in strength through decrease?

Fasting

Lent is a time for us to prepare for Jesus. Lent is usually a time of fasting from something, a letting go of something we struggle letting go of. Fasting during Lent is a way we surrender to Jesus through the letting go of something for 40 days. 

If Jesus wants to make us stronger, firmer, and more steadfast, I’m convinced we need to decrease in some ways that we haven’t even consider before. 

As I’ve experienced how letting go of material things frees up space and even changes my emotional well-being, I’m pretty sure some intangible items prevent my soul from being free too. I think it’s possible Jesus wants to free up space in our souls and minds in order to strengthen us and to prepare us for Himself. 

How might our faith become more steadfast if we chose 40 days of decrease?

40 Days of Decrease

This year for Lent, I’ve decided to do 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast written by Alicia Britt Chole. This Lenten journey is designed to help us prepare for Easter, for Jesus Himself. 

“Each day of 40 Days of Decrease features a devotional based upon Jesus’ life, guidance for reflection, suggested (and occasionally surprising) daily fasts, an inspiring quote for prayerful meditation, and optional and somewhat academic sidebar chronicling the historical development, practices, and images of Lent, and a suggested Scripture reading with journaling space.”

Have you ever contemplated decreasing things like stinginess, criticism, or comparison? No? Then, this book may be just what you need for your Lenten journey.

Lent begins Wednesday, March 2. If you click on this link, you can go right to the book on Amazon to purchase it. I hope you’ll consider a different kind of Lenten journey this year and dare to let go of some things one day at a time for 40 days of decrease.

If you choose to join me for 40 Days of Decrease this Lent, let me know. I’d love to pray for you.