Ashes to ashes

Today was ash Wednesday. James and I had talked earlier this week about it. He encouraged me to do some research on the purpose behind it all and if it was something I wanted to do, he would take me. So I found this great article, which I posted on Facebook, that was super helpful.
It's not just fasting just to do it, it's about devoting yourself more to Christ . It's a reminder of when Christ went into the wilderness and fasted for forty days with the devil tempting Him left and right.

Growing up, most of my friends have up things like candy or soda for lent... But I wanted to give up something that would be more of a behavior that I had planned on leading others out of already. Wow Ash Wednesday came at the perfect time to help me do this and devote myself to the lord how I'd been wanting to.

So for lent (at least 40 days) I'm giving up myself... I'm giving up my negativity. I'm giving up talking about others if it isn't encouraging. I'm giving up crude jokes. I'm giving up fighting with the flesh (also perfect timing that we went over eph 6 tonight). I'm giving up my need to be right. I'm giving up, essentially, discouragement.

Soda would be so much easier, I don't drink that much soda. Candy would be way too easy... Meat is also too easy... I would be short changing not only myself but also Christ and my relationship with Him... And I would be short changing my church. So I don't expect this to be an easy forty days... But I do expect them to be a beautiful forty days. Lord, please give me the strength and the wisdom daily to keep this devotion and promise I have made to You. I want what You want for me, Father.. And for Your church.