Having faced the reality of sin and the ways it bends our desires inward, we now step into a more searching question. Every act of devotion carries a motive, and today we explore what it means to shape our practices around pleasing God rather than ourselves or others.
"Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching."
2 Timothy 4:2
Lent often becomes a season where people choose practices based on what feels meaningful to them. But discipleship has never been about doing what feels meaningful—it's about doing what is faithful. The question beneath every Lenten practice is simple: Who am I pleasing?
Jesus never shaped His life around public approval or personal preference. The Father's will guided his actions. Paul reminded Timothy of the same truth: discipleship requires persistence, obedience, and courage, even when the moment is inconvenient or unpopular.
That's why Lent is deeply personal. You should not let others' expectations or tradition's demands shape your practices. The voice of God and the example of Christ should shape them. Scripture becomes your compass. Prayer becomes your posture. Obedience becomes your offering.
If you want to know what to do during Lent, start by asking God whom He wants you to serve, encourage, teach, or disciple. Lent is not about giving something up—it's about giving yourself away. When you root your practices in pleasing God, they become acts of love that shape others and your own heart.
Reflection Questions:
- Who are you pleasing most during Lent—yourself, others, or God?
- Who are you discipling, formally or informally?
- How are you living out the work of a disciple in your daily life?
Prayer:
Lord, guide my heart so that everything I do during Lent is done to please You. Teach me to disciple others with patience, courage, and love. Shape my life around Your Word and Your will.
Daily Assignment:
Write the names of the people you are discipling. Pray for each one by name.
Lent becomes powerful when you shape your practices to please God, not others.
Continue Your Journey
This devotional is part of the 40-day book Beyond Giving Up: A Lenten Journey into Obedient Faith by Toby Lofton.
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