Four Foundations for a Fruitful Lent

If you’ve ever visited an ER, before they look at whatever you’re complaining about, they’re going to check your 4 vitals: your temp, pulse, breathing, and blood pressure. 

If a vital is off, that needs to be addressed before ANYTHING else is. That’s because healthy vitals are necessary for life. 

If you feel miserable, depressed, anxious, unfocused, prone to a particular sin, or (insert your malady here), before you deal with any other “fix,” you need to check your spiritual vitals—4 practices to keep you healthy, sane, grounded, and holy. 

3 of the 4 have been ancient practices since the first days of Christianity…actually, earlier, since those practices were picked up from our Jewish roots. 

The fourth, I added as essential because…well…I’m a child of my generation. And because (you’ll see) it IS important for your interior, spiritual life. 

These practices are: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, and Exercise. 

 

Prayer

I have a simple method of prayer that changed my life. It will change yours too! I share it in this 3 minute video below, and, if you have more time, I dive deeper in this longer video I shared last Advent also found below. I follow a simple acronym, ACTS: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and finally, Stuff you need. 

 
 

Fasting

Fasting is has 4 POWERFUL effects on your life. I cover them all in the short video below. And in this 3 minute reflection me and Pat Lencioni share a few simple ideas for HOW to do it. You don’t have to be perfect. But those little sacrifices go a long way. It can be as tough as bread and water for a day, or giving up that salt during Lent. The important thing is to pick something and do it. 

 
 

Almsgiving

There is spiritual power in giving to the poor, and to the Church’s mission. But in addition to the grace that comes from the experience: 

1. Giving away money helps you break your idolatry to it. I talk about that idolatry for 3 minutes with Pat Lencioni and about my hero who broke his addiction to the “stuff” of the world below. 

2. Money CAN buy happiness…just not in the way you think. One study found that when people gain money, over and above what it costs to live, it can buy them fun but doesn’t make them ANY happier. What does work? Giving it away. That LITERALLY makes people happier. Do it! 

Find a charity or mission you believe in and cut a check. If you’re already giving, dig deeper and ask yoursself what you add to that amount during Lent…even if it means less Starbucks to pull it off! 

 
 

Exercise

Finding your motive is key to exercising regularly. I don’t do it for my body, but my brain! Did you know that, according to one Harvard study, exercise can be as effective as meds for clinical depression? (Not for everyone…but that’s worth paying attention to.) 

For me, exercise makes me more focused, and makes it easier for me to be positive and resilient, which in turn makes it easier for me to be a better Christian, and a better pray-er (see #1!). 

That said, another study showed that KNOWING you should exercise doesn’t make much difference. What does? You HAVE TO put it in your planner. And show up. Don’t complicate it. Even if you just do jumping jacks till you wanna fall over…that’ll do! 

This is WHY I exercise (in one minute). 

 

Every Lent the Church calls us to get back to basics. 

Here’s the challenge: 

  • Write down how your 4 vitals are right now. 
  • Write down exactly what you’re going to do to improve, as need be, in each of the above areas.
  • Put it in your calendar. Stick to it. And watch how much happier and holier it makes you by Easter! 
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