Lent: A Season of Reflection and Growth

Lent is a time to prepare for the resurrection of Jesus at Easter. No matter what you call them, the basics of Lent are the same – prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

The 40 days of Lent allow us to reflect on Jesus’ time alone in the desert. This experience was not glamourous or easy. It was a time for Jesus to listen, hear God’s calling, and discover His purpose.

This time of year allows for recentering and focusing, especially on Jesus’ life and the end of His life on earth – His sacrifice. Allow yourself time with your inner thoughts and time to connect with the plans God has for your life.

Common Lenten Traditions
  • Midweek church services to come together as a community.
  • Reflection opportunities – Praying, playing the piano, reading the Bible, or sitting and meditating with God.
  • Stations of the Cross and going to confession in the Catholic Church.
  • Prayer – Improving our prayer life during Lent can allow us to become closer to God. We can do this by reading Scripture, participating in a Bible study, or daily prayer. Continuing and furthering a relationship with God can help us in our daily lives.
  • Fasting – Many times, people give up chocolate, pop, or other foods during Lent. However, Lent can also be a time to fast and rid ourselves of unnecessary “things” to make space for God in our lives. We could fast from gossiping, social media, or something that takes us away from our relationship with God.
  • Almsgiving – This can be many things, giving of your time, talents, and most commonly, your treasures. This is our opportunity to serve others just as Christ would do.

Though these are a few common Lenten traditions, you don’t necessarily need to do them all to participate in this season.

What we are ‘supposed to do’ throughout Lent isn’t actually spelled out in the Bible. The apostles and early church did not actually observe Lent, but rather it became a tradition in the fourth century AD. Just as they did in the early days, though, during this time we can refocus and center our lives while modeling Jesus’ life.

The actions we take during these 40 days are not meant to happen solely during this season. The intent is to build habits that will continue year-round. So, whatever your Lenten traditions may be, remember the reason for the season.

How to Be More Comfortable Reading the Bible

bible

bibleHere at Ignite, we love scripture! We believe the Bible is a powerful tool that allows us to understand God’s plan, His love and how we should live according to His will. 

Within our community, we often hear phrases like “I don’t know where to start,” or “I’m not comfortable reading the Bible”. So, today we decided to pull together our favorite tips and pointers for how to become more comfortable while reading your Bible!

1) Find a Translation You Understand:
  • Did you know there are over 450 English translations of the Bible? Finding a translation that is easy for you to read and understand is a must! We recommend either NIV, ESV, or NKJV versions. 
2) Find a Bible You Love:
3) Insert Bible Tabs:
  • One of the biggest reasons so many people feel uncomfortable reading the Bible is because they struggle to find certain Books or verses. We recommend getting Bible tabs and attaching them to the correct pages within your Bible. Our favorites include:  
4) Do Some Research:
  • One of the easiest ways to learn more about the Bible, the people in it, or certain verses is to do research! So, if you are confused about a verse or want to learn more a certain book in the Bible, we recommend using these websites:
5) Find a Friend or Group:
  • We are called to be in community, and reading the Bible with another person is a great way to do just that! So, ask a friend, join a small group at your local church or an online community. We encourage you to be bold, take a leap of faith, and put yourself out there – you never know what God may have in store for you!

A New Season

new season

Change is a process. I learn, accept, grow, get comfortable, and then a new season of life comes. It’s an endless cycle.

I used to view change as a scary thing. I always dreaded it because I am someone who struggles with not being in control. Can you relate?

Recently, I have allowed myself to let go of my constant need for control and let God to take the reins. Just like that, new seasons of life don’t seem as daunting.

I have learned that I can view my next season of life as scary and foreign, or I can view it as a new chapter and an adventure awaiting me.

When we allow God to lead and humble ourselves to give up control, that’s when things change. That is when we can see how much we have grown and learned in our current season. All we have to do is be patient, let Him lead, and live the life He has called us to live.

Change can be intimidating, but staying the same can be just as scary. We have to go through each season of life and all the changes ahead of us to live out what God has called us to be. So, as the saying goes; let go, and let God.

My prayer for you is that whatever your season of life may be, you give up control. Trust that God will protect you, place you in extraordinary situations, and lead you to God-fearing people. If you fall short or mess up, He will pick you back up. Our God is a forgiving and great God. He has a beautiful season of life that awaits you. So go out and enjoy the new.

God Is Always With You

alone

aloneI want you to remember that you are never alone. God is always with you.

Sometimes it is hard for us to believe this statement because we cannot physically see God. I will be the first to admit it can be hard to not feel alone when you physically are alone.

Throughout my first year of college, I had never felt more alone. Looking back, God was there the whole time. I was just choosing not to see Him. It wasn’t until the end of my freshman year that I finally realized it and allowed myself to lean on God. I also realized that He is the only person who knows my past, present, and future. Why would I not trust him?

I am a person who needs a plan. I have always tried to plan every moment of my life, but it never turns out as I want it to. I’ve slowly found that I need to allow God to make the plans and I just need to be still.

During this season of my life, I have found that reading scripture has allowed me to not only feel God’s presence but physically see Him in the little moments of life.

One verse that resonates with me is Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

If you are starting a new chapter in your life, gearing up for college, or simply feeling alone, remember God is always there. He will walk with you every step of the way. All you have to do is be still.

Scripture to Combat 3 Lies Women Believe

lies

liesMost of us are guilty of believing lies about ourselves. But why? And how can Scripture help us reveal the truth?

I once sat in room, full of women my age, talking about anything and everything until the topic of feeling unworthy came up. One girl shared how she felt as though she was never enough. Another as if she was defined by her social status. The final woman shared how she struggled with believing she was beautiful.

The rest of us sat, nodding our heads, realizing that we have believed each of these statements to be true.

At some point in our lives, we have all felt unworthy or not enough. We have all felt pressure to keep up with the Jones’s or strive to a higher title or social status. Pressure to look skinnier, prettier, and more put together.

Not only have we felt these lies, but we have also wholeheartedly believed them to be true.

It broke my heart to realize that so many of us have let these lies control our lives. So, I sat down, cracked open my Bible, and looked for truth to combat these lies.

Lie #1: You are not worthy; you are not enough.

I hate to break to it you, sister, but if you believe this lie, you better stop right now and open your Bible to John 1:12.

John 1:12 – But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

You are a daughter of the King and that in itself is enough to make you feel known, loved, and seen. You are precious and you are worthy in the eyes of God. Read that once more.

Lie #2: You are defined by your job title, grades, or social status.

I refused to go to a two-year university because I thought people would look down on me. I feared I wouldn’t be as qualified or make as much money as they did. Still to this day, I run the opposite direction when I hear the words, “ACT score”.

Romans 8: 38-39 – For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Be the kind of woman who knows that her worth is not measured by what she has or what she has done, but in who she is in Christ.

Lie #3: Your beauty is defined by your outward appearance.

Sometimes it is instilled in our brains at such a young age that beauty is what we look like and what brand we wear. We spend multiple hours a day trying to impress others or change the way we look. Because society’s definition of beauty is strictly outward appearances.

1 Peter 3: 3-4 – “Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I love this verse for many reasons. The first being that it reminds us that our clothes, hair, and looks will eventually fade away. The second being that it tells us what true beauty is; someone who loves others and Jesus.

Strengthen your confidence in yourself and in Him and these lies don’t stand a chance. To help you do so, check out our latest podcast. We share how we’ve gone from feeling lost and alone to loving who God made us to be.

And if you still find yourself struggling with these lies, check out our personal development journal. Week two is dedicated to creating a healthy and holy mindset – vital in ensuring these lies have no place in your mind.

5 Bible Verses for Trusting God

Trust in His word

Trust in His wordAre you having a hard time putting your trust in God?

Are you letting fear run your life?

Do feel like nothing is stable or certain?

Have you been experiencing doubt?

Are you unsure where to start? If so, that’s okay, we have all been there before!

A great way to begin trusting God is by reading His word. Too often we forget how beautiful and powerful the gift of scripture is! When life seems crazy and nothing is going as planned, lean into Him and lean into His word. We promise your heart, mind, and soul will be renewed and you walk away stronger in your faith and more confident in the plans God has for you.

Here are 5 Bible verses for trusting God:

Jeremiah 29:11 → “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
  •  Too often, we have this notion in our head that we have to make every right move and decision to live the life that God has created for us. But the sweet truth of this verse tells us that God isn’t asking us to figure things out on our own, He is asking us to trust that He already has!
Psalm 25:4-5 → Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
  • Take a moment and think about where and what you put your hope in. A lot of times, we put our hope in earthly things and as a result, we allow the world to lead us. In this verse, David is asking God for guidance. He is choosing to be led by the spirit and truth. Let’s make the choice, each day, to seek and follow the Lord’s ways rather than the ways of the world.
Jeremiah 17:7 → But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
  • This verse is the definition of beautiful! Over time, our trust in God becomes a trust that is God – it’s a natural by-product of being with Jesus. Friend, this is your invitation to take a step in trust today.
Psalm 37:4 → Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
  • Taking delight in the Lord means that our hearts truly find peace and fulfillment in Him. When we rejoice and delight in the eternal things of God, our desires begin to parallel His, and we will never go unfulfilled.
Isaiah 58:11 → The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
  • Where God guides you, He will provide for you. Raise your hand if you are guilty of thinking just the opposite! Too often we believe we aren’t good enough, talented enough, or strong enough to fulfill what God has put on our hearts. But this verse tells us just the opposite. Where God guides, He provides. Read that once more!