Today we begin the 40 day LentChallenge journey through the New Testament! I’m especially excited that my 10-year-old son (birthday tomorrow March 6) is joining me (pic of him this morning below)!

Let me make something clear about my position on Lent. This is not about penance or trying to earn or merit anything from God. It’s simply a season to seek God. To reflect. To evaluate. To prepare. See my post Three Reasons to Take the Challenge for more.

MANY thanks for Margaret Fienberg for her leadership. She wrote this awesome post and is the one spear heading the LentChallenge.

My practice of Lent this year is not about giving something up or fasting. During the next 40 days my focus is reading and praying through the New Testament. I’m using YouVersion. To get the #LentChallenge reading guide CLICK HERE or follow these instructions.

• Go to YouVersion.com
• Click on Reading Plans
• Search “The 40-Day New Testament Challenge”
• Begin Plan!

You can also download the LentChallenge reading guide HERE.

This morning I used YouVersion to read and listen to today’s reading. As you can see above my son is also listening to the audio. There’s something about hearing God’s Word and reading it at the same time.

USE IT OR LOSE IT

The last part of Matthew 7 struck me this morning. Jesus preached what is likely the greatest sermon ever in chaps 5-7. Know as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus unpacks the source of true righteousness and wisdom. Check out the conclusion of His sermon…

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

For me the 40-Day LentChallenge is all about taking in and applying God’s Word to my life. That seems like the wise thing to do!

QUESTION: WHAT is the Lord speaking to you about through His Word?