I am pleased to say it is going quite well!! The first few days were hard. Very hard. I was grumpy, I whined, I craved coffee. I even tried bargaining with God about the whole deal...that is when He spoke to me in a very real and personal way.
I heard Him speak to my heart, "Then drink coffee."
God of the universe say what?!?
"Drink coffee if you want to. I never asked you to give it up. You made that decision. You wanted to do this for Me. I never called you to do it."
Basically He was saying to me, you made this choice, Joah. So drink coffee if you want to - or don't. But if you choose not to then suck it up, quit whining, stop being grumpy, and focus on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Which was my whole purpose for observing Lent in the first place. But sometimes I am kinda slow. Okay, okay...real slow.)
With my new found perspective I am cruising through the days. Ironically though, today was tough. I was very tired this morning, it was raining, and I was cold. This is the "perfect storm" for coffee consumption. But, as I resisted and turned my java craving into Christ worship, I was encouraged. Jesus Christ was crucified. He endured pain and torture that I cannot fathom. He did that for me. He did that for you.
So, I continue on in self denial until Easter. Yes, I know that Lent ends the week before Easter - on Palm Sunday...well, I know that now. (Thanks S.G.) Not being of a religion that traditionally celebrates this event, I had no idea that 40 days did not extend until Easter, nor did I look at a calendar. But that is what my heart is prepared to do - and I am an overachiever - so, there you go.
I am so looking forward to Easter...not so I can drink delicious brown gold - though I will, and it will be great - but so I can celebrate the resurrection of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
