Lent Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:00:13 -0500 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/7-celebrities-observing-lent-and-encouraging-others-to-join.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/7-celebrities-observing-lent-and-encouraging-others-to-join.html Milton Quintanilla https://www.crosswalk.com/author/milton-quintanilla/ The annual season of Lent kicked off on Wednesday with Ash Wednesday, just 40 days ahead of Easter/Resurrection Sunday.Lent, which is practiced by Catholics and some Christians worldwide, originates from the early church's practice of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. A number of well-known Catholic and Christian celebrities have taken part in this year's Lent and encouraged others to do likewise. Here are 7 of them.Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Today Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:10:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/relationship-focused-goals-for-this-lenten-season.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/relationship-focused-goals-for-this-lenten-season.html Carrie Lowrance https://www.crosswalk.com/author/carrie-lowrance/ The Lenten season is upon us, and most people give something up. When I was a kid, my mom and one of our employees (my parents owned a restaurant) used to give up sweets for Lent, and I would join them. Instead of giving something up this Lent, let’s set some goals in our relationships. Our relationship with God is most important, but so are our relationships with other people. Here are some ideas to grow closer in your relationships this Lenten season.Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Joshua-Ness Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/breakpoint-daily-commentary/we-are-not-our-own-the-counter-cultural-season-of-lent.html https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/breakpoint-daily-commentary/we-are-not-our-own-the-counter-cultural-season-of-lent.html John Stonestreet https://www.crosswalk.com/author/john-stonestreet/ Is it all about us, or about Jesus and Him crucified? Today, we enter what may be the most counter-cultural season of the church calendar. More on Lent, next on BreakPoint. Wed, 05 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/are-you-misusing-lent-to-lose-weight.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/are-you-misusing-lent-to-lose-weight.html Cally Logan https://www.crosswalk.com/author/cally-logan/ I also take comfort in knowing that should such temptations arise again, He will be there to help me through. Anorexia does not have the final say in my Lenten season or my life; God does. Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/why-lent-is-important-for-kids-with-free-activity-guide.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/why-lent-is-important-for-kids-with-free-activity-guide.html Veronica Olson Neffinger https://www.crosswalk.com/author/veronica-neffinger/ Want to help your kids connect with Lent in a meaningful way? We’ve got simple, fun ideas to bring the season to life—plus a FREE Lent Guide for Kids to make reflection, repentance, and the joy of Easter easy to explore together! Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:50:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/10-goals-for-singles-to-have-during-the-season-of-lent.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/10-goals-for-singles-to-have-during-the-season-of-lent.html Liz Lampkin https://www.crosswalk.com/author/liz-lampkin/ Lent. The time of year when believers across the globe recognize the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It’s the season where believers partake in fasting, giving alms, and prayer to help us remember how merciful God has been and to show love to others. Fasting or giving up something is one aspect of the Lenten season that helps us focus our attention on God and listen to what He has to say. While many believers are gearing up to participate in 40 days of Lent to commemorate Christ and His sacrifice, many may not know where to begin. For single believers, many may participate in the typical sacrifice; giving up certain foods, releasing certain habits, and attending various liturgical services. These are fine to participate in, but why not add new activities to the single lenten journey that could enhance your life in more ways than one? If you don’t know where to begin, look at the list below and see where you fit in.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/pcess609 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/ways-to-teach-your-kids-about-lent-and-include-them-in-it.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/ways-to-teach-your-kids-about-lent-and-include-them-in-it.html Jaime Jo Wright https://www.crosswalk.com/author/jaime-jo-wright/ These are deep topics for kids to understand, so consider Lent a time to introduce them to these concepts. Depending on their ages, it may be as simple as beginning to help them understand what sin is or as complex as teaching the theology behind many of the observations during Lent. Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/powerful-prayers-to-turn-to-when-your-lenten-fast-gets-tough.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/powerful-prayers-to-turn-to-when-your-lenten-fast-gets-tough.html Whitney Hopler https://www.crosswalk.com/author/whitney-hopler/ Fasting has been a sacred discipline during Lent for centuries. When you fast as you prepare for Easter, you can move closer to God by setting aside physical comforts to focus on spiritual growth. During Lent, fasting reminds you of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, where he fasted and resisted temptation to prepare himself for his ministry work. Just as prayer was important to Jesus when he fasted, prayer is also a vital way for you to find the encouragement you need for your own fast this Lent. You can use specific prayers to lift up to God when you start to struggle with your fast. The more you pray, the more you can find the strength you need to fast.Fasting is about much more than just abstaining from food or activities you enjoy during other times. Beyond that, fasting is about deepening your relationship with God, strengthening your faith, and preparing your heart to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on Easter. In Joel 2:12, God calls you to fast as a way of growing closer to him: “‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’” Isaiah 58:6 reminds you of God’s desire for a meaningful fast: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Fasting draws you closer to God and helps you grow in holiness.However, fasting can be challenging. You can expect to struggle sometimes when you deny yourself something you enjoy – whether you’re fasting from certain foods, or whether you’re fasting from something else, such as social media or television shows. So, it’s important to pray so you can overcome the challenges of fasting. Here are 7 prayers to lift up to God when you start to struggle with your fast this Lent:Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Denis Mamin  Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/4-ways-jesus-resurrection-brings-comfort-when-youve-lost-someone-you-love.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/4-ways-jesus-resurrection-brings-comfort-when-youve-lost-someone-you-love.html Elizabeth Delaney https://www.crosswalk.com/author/elizabeth-delaney/ Holidays are one of the most difficult times of the year when we’ve lost someone we love. Memories of having that special person beside us when we worship can make going to church painful, and even something we might feel like we want to avoid. But if possible, don’t withdraw. Worship is one of the ways that God will bring healing to our broken heart. Try finding a close friend or family member who will go with you.Certainly, we’re in good company with the pain we’re feeling. Jesus’ friends and family must have felt decimated when he died. And Jesus is no stranger to grief. When His friend Lazarus passed away, He wept. While it’s important to grieve properly so that we can heal properly, there are also some things we can keep in mind that might bring us comfort with regard to the kind of life our loved one is enjoying in the presence of Jesus.Photo Credit: ©Tinnakorn Jorruang Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:25:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/ways-to-keep-yourself-accountable-throughout-lent.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/ways-to-keep-yourself-accountable-throughout-lent.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ Lent encompasses the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. During these forty days, many Christians choose to give up something to draw closer to God. While not all Christians practice Lent, it is an important part of many believers' lives. Whether you choose to participate in Lent or not is up to you, but if you do, it is important to stay on track.It can be easy to go off the rails during Lent or give up a few days in. People participating in Lent give up something that they really care about, affects their daily lives, or takes up a lot of their time, such as sugar, soda, a specific type of food, social media, or television.As we walk through Lent, we will need to stay strong. We can’t give up or quit just because it is hard. By continuing on in Lent for the right reasons, we will strengthen our relationship with the Lord and get to know Him better. Here are six ways to keep yourself accountable throughout Lent.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Milko  Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:45:00 -0500 2026-01-08T04:00:13-05:00