https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/rss.xml Lent Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Mon, 25 May 2026 21:50:05 -0400 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/5-things-about-palm-sunday-that-remind-us-christ-is-king.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/5-things-about-palm-sunday-that-remind-us-christ-is-king.html Debbie McDaniel https://www.crosswalk.com/author/debbie-mcdaniel/ In this Holy Week, may God direct our thoughts and attention towards what matters most, Jesus Christ our King... Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:47:00 -0400 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/why-dont-catholics-eat-meat-on-fridays-during-lent.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/why-dont-catholics-eat-meat-on-fridays-during-lent.html Sophia Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/sophia-bricker/ What many of us may not know, especially if we are Protestant Christians, is that the tradition of eating fish instead of other meats on Fridays originates from a Catholic tradition. Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:13:14 -0400 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/things-to-give-up-this-lent-to-refocus-your-singleness.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/things-to-give-up-this-lent-to-refocus-your-singleness.html Liz Lampkin https://www.crosswalk.com/author/liz-lampkin/ During the season of Lent, believers make sacrificial efforts to refocus on spiritual matters and become closer to God. During this time, many believers give up certain foods or habits that may distract them from their spiritual growth. Giving something up helps us emulate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, which He did to gain our salvation. For single Christians, many often give up physical items that may or may not seem easy to release; however, in an effort to grow spiritually, something is released. This year for Lent, singles should try releasing something different that will bring them closer to God and to understanding their gift of singleness. Many singles often look forward to changing their relationship status, and while there is nothing wrong with that desire, they often miss out on the blessings of singleness. This year for Lent, take some time to give up a few things that will help you refocus your heart, mind, and spirit on your singleness. If you don’t know where to start on this journey, take a look at the list below.Photo credit: ©Jeremy Yap Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:34:01 -0400 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00 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, 18 Mar 2026 11:13:00 -0400 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/holy-week-prepare-for-easter-with-your-family-1317997.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/holy-week-prepare-for-easter-with-your-family-1317997.html Noël Piper We reveal to ourselves and others what is important to us by the way we celebrate. Is the season before Easter mainly a hassle or is it a time of considering God's work in our lives? Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:45:00 -0400 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/easter/how-do-we-observe-lent-in-a-biblical-way.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/easter/how-do-we-observe-lent-in-a-biblical-way.html Rev. Kyle Norman https://www.crosswalk.com/author/rev-kyle-norman/ Lent, therefore, is a time to look at the relational closeness between ourselves and our Lord. Where do we need to grow closer with Jesus? Where do our actions, our habits, or our attitudes, get in the way of the call to faithful living? Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:54:00 -0400 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/how-to-have-an-imperfect-lent.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/how-to-have-an-imperfect-lent.html Theresa Ceniccola https://www.crosswalk.com/author/theresa-ceniccola/ Lent often begins with good intentions—giving something up, praying more, or committing to spiritual discipline. But what happens when we fall short? Lent was never about perfection. It’s about returning to God again and again, even after mistakes. Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:25:00 -0500 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/singles/5-valuable-lessons-i-learned-from-a-40-day-fast.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/singles/5-valuable-lessons-i-learned-from-a-40-day-fast.html Jennifer Heeren https://www.crosswalk.com/author/jennifer-heeren/ When you give something up, let it be so that the Lord can teach you something, not so that you can boast or draw attention to yourself in any way. Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:02:00 -0500 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/lenten-journal-reflections-for-singles.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/lent/lenten-journal-reflections-for-singles.html Liz Lampkin https://www.crosswalk.com/author/liz-lampkin/ Lent is the time of year when believers fast, reflect, and pray for 40 days to mirror the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and to grow closer to God. During the Lenten season, many people take time to reflect through journaling to deepen their spiritual life, record their personal journey towards renewal, and foster deep personal examination. For singles, many keep journals that help them reflect on their single journey as it relates to relationships. Many often feel incomplete because they lack a romantic partner and take time to journal their thoughts, prayers, and reflect on past relationships. This year, for the season of Lent, many single believers have prepared to fast, pray, give alms, and journal for many spiritual and personal reasons. Single believers, this year for Lent, if you’re journaling, take some time to focus on prompts that will draw you closer to God, closer to your purpose, and help you understand your singleness. If you don’t know where to start, take a look at the following prompts to guide and structure your thoughts during this Lenten season.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Daniel de la Hoz Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:55:29 -0500 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/why-i-was-wrong-about-lent.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/why-i-was-wrong-about-lent.html Jennifer Kostick https://www.crosswalk.com/author/jennifer-kostick/ Encouragement on refocusing and reawakening what the cross means to us. Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:30:00 -0500 2026-05-25T21:50:05-04:00