Lent is upon us and a lot of people are saying they are giving up certain things. If you are, great, but don’t play with it. Listen, fasting is hard and during your time of fasting the enemy will come at you even harder. If he was bold enough to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11), what makes you think he will sympathize when it comes to you? This is why I said, don’t play with it because you are about to be hit by the opponent and hit hard; so brace yourself for the impact. Maybe you aren’t fasting but the enemy is still trying to defeat you, brace for the impact. Regardless of what it is, you can handle it. Spouse left, friends haven’t called, money is few, church folk looking at you strange, can’t find a job, car on its last leg, children acting like they don’t know the rules and on top of that you’re getting sick; brace for the impact. It’ll even seem like everything is hitting you all at once, all hell is breaking loose around you and you can’t find level footing but it’s just your time to endure; brace for the impact.
Lent is a season of repentance, a time you choose to fast and pray. It is not a season of doing it because everybody else is because while you are in this season (whether you are fasting or not), you may be tempted but don’t give in. Even if you happen to fail one day of your fast, pick back up and do better the next day. Even if it seems like your tears won’t stop, cry; they are liquid prayers. Just don’t play with this thang. It may get hard but you’ll be taken care of just like Jesus was, while in the wilderness, by the angels dispatched to protect you. But beloved, you’ve got to first believe, don’t concede. I don’t care if it looks dark, keep walking. It doesn’t matter if you’re stumbling over stuff, keep walking. It’s ok if folk have already counted you out, keep walking. Just don’t play with this spiritual thing because you may just find yourself in self-made trouble if you do. For the bible says in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.” Don’t fast for followers and don’t participate in Lent for likes; do it because you want better for your spiritual life. Whatever the reason, don’t play with it.
Lakisha, the Author 