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Throughout my whole life, Lent has been a very special, reflective time of year, but it has also been generally focused on external things. Some of these external things have produced great internal change and closeness with Jesus, such as the Daniel Fast I did two different years and my commitment to yell less and pray more last year.
I attended an online class by my friend Jessi last week about walking with Jesus this Lent in a more intentional and meaningful way. That class had me asking God during a run this weekend, “What do you want Lent to be about for me this year? What do you want me to be about for YOU this Lent, God?”
The immediate promptings in my soul were twofold:
- It needs to be about ALL of me. Me as a whole.
- I need to be reminding just how very much He is FOR me.
That is some heavy stuff for me, but Lent is a somber, reflective time. And it culminates in so much joy and hope. I imagine this is just what He wants for me this year, too.
So I haven’t decided to fast in any way yet, but two books just happened to come into my view this past week and they will be helping me keep this internal God-focus for the 40 days of Lent.
Holey, Wholly, Holy: A Lenten Journey of Refinement, written by the lovely Kris Camealy, is book #1. I’ve had this book sitting on my Kindle shelf just waiting for Lent to roll around and I can’t wait to dive in. I love the imagery of journeying through these 40 days, moving from broken to surrendered to claiming the grace He has for us. Kris has a beautiful heart for Jesus and encouraging others as they walk with Him.
Just today, a companion workbook for Holey, Wholly, Holy was released AND there is an online community of women going through the book this Lent as well!
Book #2 showed up in Kris’ Instagram feed this weekend just hours after God and I had our conversation about my Lent focus. It’s called God for Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter. During Advent and Christmas, we celebrate that He came to be WITH us, but this FOR us part is really grabbing a hold of me right now. I’m anxious to read more and embrace this truth with all that I am. If anything proves how much He is FOR me, it is what He endured for me leading up to and on the cross.
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 5th this year and that is when I will start reading through Holey, Wholly, Holy with the online study group. I would love to have you join us!
And to celebrate the release of the companion workbook, Kris is graciously given me one PDF set of the book AND workbook to giveaway here today! Just enter below!
I'm Erin, a wife, boy mom x 3, writer, and runner in Nebraska! I'm excited to share all my favorites relating to faith, family, fashion, and fitness in this space! Enjoy! 
Would LOVE to win and be a part of the group. Thank you for the opportunity!
This year I would like Lent to be a time of reflection upon myself and the sacrifice made for us. I would like every day to have at least 5 minutes of renewal and devotion on it. As opposed to thinking about it on Ash Wednesday and then realizing 40 days later- “Oops, it’s already Easter. Guess I’ll reflect next year.”
I used to think of lent as something Catholics observed but never really considered how I might celebrate it. Your book reviews have me really interested.
I would love to do this!
Lent isn’t something my family has ever focused on much, but I would love to going forward.
Thanks for sharing this, Erin. I am so grateful.
I grew up in a Christian home and although my folks meant well in everything they did, looking back, Christian holiday celebrations were very surface level and centered around traditions that the world had developed. For my own family, God has given me strong convictions to make our Christian holiday celebrations more meaningful, Christ centered, and teaching about salvation through Christ. Even bough my convictions are strong I’m still very new at the idea and concept. I’d love to win this giveaway and join the online community growing through the study! Would love to gain more insight into how other families celebrate with meaning. 🙂
I would love to win this and be a part of the group!