3 Powerful Prayers to Help Prepare for Lent
One of the best things we can do prior to the the start of Lent is prepare! Prepare our heart, mind, and soul for everything God wants to say to and do for and through us.
While there are plenty of ideas for spiritual practices during Lent (most notably an increase in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving), it is also wise to properly prepare for Lent; not only to have a proper disposition before God and to set thorough goals, but also to have a successful Lent through-and-through. To this end, it is wise to plan a visit to the Blessed Sacrament prior to Ash Wednesday. Then, while in front of the monstrance, make a thorough examination of conscience and ask yourself important Lent-related questions such as How do I want to grow during Lent this year? How can I become more open to God’s will over my own? What do I need to do in order to be more attentive to my spiritual life this year? How can I better suffer and adopt a spirit of sacrifice?
The days leading up to Lent always prove to be a most powerful time to visit the Blessed Sacrament and pray to Jesus; a time to get our minds, hearts and souls properly disposed for the penitential season of 40 days of fasting. But if you cannot visit the Blessed Sacrament, then setting aside some quiet time at your home or at work will of course suffice. Maybe light a blessed candle and kneel in front of a picture of Jesus for added ambience and focus. Whatever works best for you, while you are in a contemplative space, here are Three Powerful Prayers to Prepare for Lent in order to get you thinking of the season ahead.
Three Powerful Prayers to Prepare for Lent
First, in prayer, ask God every day (between now and Ash Wednesday) what your soul needs in order to better magnify Him. Then ask Him what changes in your life need to be made in order to make this happen. When you ask, wait patiently and quietly, pondering the depth of your question and listening earnestly for the answer. We humans are great at fooling ourselves – especially in regards to how we are doing and the actual state of our soul. Regardless, God loves a humble, praying soul before Him. And while it may take several hours or days to receive an answer to your question(s), if you are truly open to hearing it, He will give it to you. Be forewarned though … normally His answers do demand a certain level of obedience and change from us.
Second, in prayer, ask God what about your life makes Him happy and not happy. While there are many aspects of our lives that no doubt bring God great joy, there are also aspects that do not. Any sin, even the tiniest of venial sins, cause Our Lord much grief and pain. In addition, it is these smaller and less obvious sins that we, because of their subtlety, must be most careful to root out.
But while it’s important to identify any and all vice hindering our relationship with God, it is equally important to embrace and build upon those aspects that cause Him great joy. As you pray, listen to the Lord’s answer and then pray for the grace to make any changes necessary.
Third, in prayer, ask God about any areas in your life needing to be spiritually strengthened in order to deepen your relationship with Him. Tell Him your deepest desires and let Him know that you wish only for His divine will. Lent is the perfect time to “get real” with God – to lay everything bare before Him (even though He already knows) and let Him decide what should come and what should go. Meditating on the Passion of Christ during Lent is one of the most powerful ways to conform our lives and actions to His … ultimately bringing Him the most joy.
Conclusion
These three short and simple prayer-starters will help you prepare yourself for the holy season of Lent now upon us. The beautiful thing about Our Lord is that when we turn to Him and seek His ways, asking for His guidance to better our lives and grow in holiness, He always answers. We can never out give God in His goodness. And while the answers He gives are oftentimes challenging, they are always the roadmap to our greater good, success, and sanctity.
Happy preparation and Happy Lent!
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