What are you giving up for Lent this year?

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This has been all over social media today, problem is it lists things that are sinful (selfishness, bitterness, etc.) You cannot fast from sin. Fast is from a good thing.

Thing is, we have become so spiritually “soft” that many of us cringe at the idea of giving up some pleasure for 7 weeks, so, we are attracted to fasting from “pressure”. Give me a break. If you are going to fast, fast.
 
Meat and fowl. This will be hard, I am a serious carnivore.

Because of life circumstances I’ve not fasted during the past two Lents, so, I am going to be serious this year.
 
I may be doing the same thing! Along with no sugar, and smaller amounts of food. And smaller amounts of time-wasting. Although my phone wants me to give up time-stamping. 😂
 
It wasn’t meant to fall on any one in particular, but meant as a gen. statement. It seems that it feel on you and for that I apologize. Please forgive. Peace.
 
I’ve thought about giving up a different class of food on different days of the week. Does this sound like a good idea?
 
I’ve given up soda for the past two years, but now I’ll give up coffee. It’ll save me a lot of money, and I can put it towards what I already give at collection (I usually try to give 10% of every paycheck I earn).
 
I’m an “older citizen”.

I learned through experience to offer up something that is Doable and sustainable -doable

I can be “pig-headed” so the sustainable has always been fairly easy for me.

The OTHER LESSON I learned is NOT to choose something that affects others [like my wife for example]

I LOVE Coffee!🤣

So one year I choose to give it up; and give it UP I DID!
But I was such a GRUMP that my Brise of now 50 years suffered even more than I did:sweat_smile:

NOT a good idea that.

So experience has taught me that I do indeed need to do something that IS a sacrifice; BUT only a sacrifice for ME. So now I don’t give up coffee; BUT I give up the sweetner that I put in that coffee; and that way I suffer, by Bride does not from me any more than usual; and I ma reminded of Christ suffering with every cup; the y key is to still drink as many cups as usual.

Have a Blessed and humbling Lent my friends,
Patrick
 
That’s beautiful. I know of a lot of girls praying for their future husbands, its nice to know that there are guys out there thinking and praying for their future wives 🙂 God bless you and your future spouse
 
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I’m giving up listening to music this Lent! It’s going to be tough, because I’ve gotten into such a bad habit of drowning out sadness, loneliness, boredom, anger, etc, by plugging headphones into my ears. But it will be worth the struggle I think. I hope to come out of this Lenten season better at turning to God, rather than noise, to fill the emptiness inside of me.

“Noise is a deceptive, addictive, and false tranquilizer. The tragedy of our world is never better summed up than in the fury of senseless noise that stubbornly hates silence. This age detests the things that silence brings us to: encounter, wonder, and kneeling before God… Man must make a choice: God or nothing, silence or noise.” Cardinal Sarah
 
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TheLittleLady said:
This has been all over social media today, problem is it lists things that are sinful (selfishness, bitterness, etc.) You cannot fast from sin. Fast is from a good thing.
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Selfishness is the natural state of human beings. We are born into the world this way. Are you suggesting an infant is sinning because the infant needs everything from others, and can’t give anything?

Bitterness is also a natural human reaction to being hurt. It is contrary to the will of the Spirit, and we need to put it away from ourselves.

Isaiah 58:6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

This does not sound like giving up a good (only). I agree, it is beneficial for us to fast from things to which we are attached, but there are many ways of fasting, and giving up habits that do not glorify God is one. The Church supports fasting as described here in Isaiah, which is the origin of the Rice Bowl.
goout said:
I’m fasting from posting here.

God bless everyone this lent.
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May God equally bless your fast!
anon68864946 said:
I’m giving up listening to music this Lent! It’s going to be tough, because I’ve gotten into such a bad habit of drowning out sadness, loneliness, boredom, anger, etc, by plugging headphones into my ears.
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This is actually a very good way of coping. What about limiting yourself to Sacred Music?
 
I was considering doing that! However I realized I also waste a lot of time listening to music. Whatever I listen to, I tend to get completely absorbed by it and not do anything else. I waste a lot of time that could be spent praying or reading the Bible/other religious texts, or even just helping my Mum around the house. Plus, giving it up entirely is going to be such a big sacrifice, and I want to start sacrificing more for Jesus 😊
Just out of interest, why do you think listening to music is a good way of coping? I think (especially secular music) that it isn’t the best, and that God’s arms are the best place for me to run to, rather than turning to music and my own inward thoughts, but I would be interested to hear your perspective!
 
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TheLittleLady said:
Thing is, we have become so spiritually “soft” that many of us cringe at the idea of giving up some pleasure for 7 weeks, so, we are attracted to fasting from “pressure”. Give me a break. If you are going to fast, fast.
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Completely agree. Well said.
 
I’m giving up jealousy. And using my phone too much. Didn’t set up a limit still.
 
anon68864946 said:
was considering doing that! However I realized I also waste a lot of time listening to music. Whatever I listen to, I tend to get completely absorbed by it and not do anything else. I waste a lot of time that could be spent praying or reading the Bible/other religious texts, or even just helping my Mum around the house.
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“He who sings,” said St. Augustine, “prays twice.” The holy Bishop of Hippo meant that singing adds to our praise and worship of God—that our voices are gifts, with which we can make music to the Lord. Sung prayer expresses the joy of the heart, the happiness resulting from one who has encountered Jesus Christ and experienced his love. Sung prayer reminds us of the choirs of heaven, with whom we are called to praise God eternally in heaven.

Consider allowing yourself to be completely absorbed in worship, and helping your mum while singing your favorite hynms!
anon68864946 said:
Just out of interest, why do you think listening to music is a good way of coping? I
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God has clearly created your heart so that it can be completely absorbed by music. Since He is the creator of all the music of the universe, this should be considered a great gift. There are ways that music can help us transcend in the soul that cannot be reached otherwise. If you are drawn to be lost in music, then allow the music to draw you to be lost in Him.

I agree that there is a lot of secular music that is not necessarily nourishing for the spirit, but this might be a good time for you to explore Sacred music that can draw your soul closer to HIm.
 
guanophore said:
God has clearly created your heart so that it can be completely absorbed by music. Since He is the creator of all the music of the universe, this should be considered a great gift. There are ways that music can help us transcend in the soul that cannot be reached otherwise. If you are drawn to be lost in music, then allow the music to draw you to be lost in Him.
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Wow! I’ve never thought of it like that before! I’ve always seen my habit of daydreaming with music to be a bad thing. Thank you, that’s quite a beautiful perspective! And I do love sacred music, so I will aim to listen to that rather than secular music, so as to become lost in Jesus ❤️
guanophore said:
Consider allowing yourself to be completely absorbed in worship, and helping your mum while singing your favorite hynms!
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Another beautiful idea, thank you! I wish I had a good singing voice though! I sound like a dying cat when I sing 😂
 
Be sure to read your labels. Sugar is in many things and under various names. Even tomato soup has it.
 
Ooooo! Patrick, I did give up the cream in my coffee on year and it was such a good thing. I really HATE black coffee. Even after 6 weeks I still hated black coffee.
 
I remember the year I decided to give up caffeine for decaf. Mama put up with my grumpiness for 2 days and said, “Get back on the caffeine. Find something else to give up for Lent.”
 
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