What is Lent - A Time Set Aside Just as we set aside time to spiritually prepare for Christmas Day , it makes sense to set aside time to prepare for the two most important days of the Christian year . Lent is a time that offers us an opportunity to come to terms with the human condition we may spend the rest of the year running from and it brings our need for a Savior to the forefront . Like Advent , Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper , so that when Good Friday and eventually Easter comes , it is not just another day at church but an opportunity to receive the overflowing of graces God has to offer . But unlike the childlike joy associated with the season of Advent , with it ’ s eager anticipation of the precious baby Jesus , Lent is an intensely penitential time as we examine our sinful natures and return to the God we have , through our own rebelliousness , hurt time and again . Lent is also an opportunity to contemplate what our Lord really did for us on the Cross - and it wasn ’ t pretty . But ultimately , the purpose of Lent does not stop at sadness and despair - it points us to the hope of the Resurrection and the day when every tear will be dried ( Rev . 21:3 ). And about three o ’ clock Jesus cried with a loud voice , “ Eli , Eli , lema sabachthani ?” that is , “ My God , my God , why have you forsaken me ?” Matthew 27:33-49 Although the nature of suffering is not one that offers itself to easy explanations or pat answers , the answers we seek seem to make the most sense in light of the Cross . There is nothing in the world - no religion , philosophy , or material comfort - that offers such a powerful answer to life ’ s toughest questions as the two slabs of wood on which our Savior died . Although I was drawn to Christianity in search of joy , it ’ s the Cross that keeps me coming back day after day , year after year . It is this time of year , known as Lent , that I am reminded of what Jesus did for me . When I look into the eyes of our suffering God , I ’ m in awe - suddenly the complexity of our Lord , the love of our Lord , the humanity of our Lord shows through . I realize God is not just some nebulous energy source or a grandfather sitting in the clouds - He is so much more . The Cross is where our faith stands when all other faith ’ s fail . Christ ’ s sacrifice and his subsequent resurrection are the true “ cruxes ” of the Christian faith . Without one there would be no salvation , without the other , no hope . This is why Good Friday and the following Easter Sunday are the most important dates on the Christian calendar - even more so than Christmas . How Lent Started So where does Lent come from , and how do we “ do ” Lent ? The Lenten season developed as part of the historical Christian calendar and is typically celebrated by Catholics and some mainline Protestant churches that follow a liturgical calendar . Although its format has varied throughout the centuries and throughout different cultures , the basic concept remains the same : to open our hearts to God ’ s refining grace through prayer , confession , fasting , and almsgiving as we anticipate Holy Week . Lent traditionally lasts forty days , modeled after Christ ’ s forty day fast in the desert , and ends on Good Friday . In the Western Church , Lent officially begins with a reminder of our mortality on Ash Wednesday ( this year , falling on March 1st ). Practicing Lent Today As with Advent , you can benefit from celebrating Lent even if your church does not formally do so . Here are some of the key elements of the Lenten season , along with some of the symbolism that comes with it . Many of these practices can be celebrated both individually and as a community : Purple : Like Advent , the official color for Lent is purple . Usually , churches that celebrate Lent choose the deepest , darkest shade of purple for this special season . They may also strip their churches bare of some of the usual decorations adorning the walls . Purple is the color of repentance for sins and also symbolizes the state of our souls outside the light of Christ . During this time , pray for those who do not know Christ and for those who have sinned gravely against Him . Confession : As mentioned above , Lent is a penitential season , even more so than Advent . The 40 days are set aside to really examine areas of recurring sin in our lives that prevent us from being conformed to God ’ s Will . Keep in mind the idea here is not to be overly scrupulous or to deceive yourself into thinking you can earn heaven through your own goodness . The goal is to honestly examine your life in light of God ’ s Word and to make a commitment to change in any areas you have not submitted to the Lord . A good way to start an examination of conscience is by praying Psalm 139 , verse 23-24 : “ Search me , O God , and know my heart ; test me and know my