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In preparation for Easter, many Christians and Catholics have been observing Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and will continue for 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving until April 17. Not everyone necessarily abstains from food. Many people are choosing to fast from social media or other popular indulgences, such as coffee, sweets and television. While I do prepare to reflect on Christ's triumph on the cross and praise God for His gift of salvation during this time of year, I have never observed Lent. The Southern Baptist church that I grew up in did not lead members in Lent rituals when I was a child, but it began explaining its principles in services leading up to the Easter season 15 years ago. My present church focuses more on the Christian liturgical period that starts on Easter Sunday and ends on Pentecost Sunday.

I have always found Lent's 40-day observance intriguing because it symbolizes the 40-day fast of Jesus in the Judean Wilderness, as told in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. After being incredibly hungry, the Scriptures describe how Satan tempted Jesus to misuse the authority and power of the Word of God. The devil entices Jesus to turn stones into bread, tries to bribe Him with the wealth and rulership of the kingdoms of the world, and attempts to lure Him to jump off the pinnacle of the temple with a devious misinterpretation of the ministry of angels. As I have read about Jesus' temptation many times, Satan's conniving scheme to coax the Lord to bow down and worship him has always stood out to me because worship is a significant cornerstone in the life of a believer. In sincere and grateful reverence from the soul, worship draws one near to God in a profoundly special and intimate way.

During this Easter season, worship has been a central focus at my church. In a recent Sunday morning service, the drummer of our praise and worship team spoke about how we need to let worship "be true" to us. He referenced Romans 12:1, which instructs us to "present (our) bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God," and James 4:10, which tells us to "humble (ourselves) in the sight of the Lord" so that He can "lift (us) up." I know that I definitely need to be lifted up and that a renewed focus on worship can spark a mighty inward revival in me. Although I am not observing Lent in the traditional sense of fasting from food, my fast comprises an indulgence in "the Word and worship," as my pastor would say.

For me, this type of fast is necessary because I pay close attention to the mood and morale of those around me, as well as the nation, and the latter hasn't been very enthusiastic recently. For example, the 2024 Word of the Year selected by Merriam-Webster was "polarization," which Anna Furman of The Associated Press described as "(extending) beyond political connotations" and "(highlighting) fresh cracks and deep rifts alike in pop culture, tech trends and other industries." Time magazine reporter Chad de Guzman called these rifts "bad for democracy (and) bad for our health."

A 2021 Social Science & Medicine survey on the effects of political polarization on mental health found that increased anxiety and depression may be linked to perceived partisan divisiveness. Due to political stress and other burdens of our culture that can heavily weigh us down, a word fast combined with worship to God during Lent and the Easter season can keep our minds, as Isaiah 26:3 promises, in "perfect peace."

As the celebration of Christ's resurrection approaches, I encourage you to take some quiet time with God, which does not always require fasting, to cast your cares upon Him. Find great joy that will sustain you by deepening your spiritual growth.

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Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on X: @JjSmojc. To find out more about Jessica Johnson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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