The Season of Lent is an invitation to intimacy with God. Scripture for the first Sunday in Lent took us into the wilderness with Jesus. For 40 days, Jesus fasted, prayed, and faced down the evil one with the “word” that lived in him. The incarnate Word is Jesus himself.
Did you know that you are a word of God, too?
…even as he “chose” us in him before the foundation of the world… Ephesians 3:4
The word “chose” is the Greek work- Eklectos- which means a
“spoken forth word of God.” God spoke you forth before the foundations of the world. Your Divine DNA, the family genes, is uniquely expressed through you. It is your intimate connection with God’s Holy Spirit and the way you bring the image of God through your created being.
You may have gone through challenges in the last few years that feel as though you’ve been in the wilderness for more than two years and the idea of practicing “giving things up” for Lent sounds like empty religion. But what if your prayer practices came from a place of relationship with God as made in God’s image?
The evil one asked Jesus, “If you are the son of God…” and Jesus stayed true to himself and didn’t need to prove he was enough. If you practice more of what is true about you in prayer, you may discover you don’t ‘live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
We utilize the Enneagram of Personality Styles as a spiritual formation model to help people enjoy God as God intended, rather than a religious false self that performs for approval or appeases a punitive image of God. You know, a duck doesn’t need to be anything but a duck to please God. So why not be like a duck and be yourself with God this Lent? Practice being with God as you are. To take the inventory to discover your Style click here.
Once you know your style, consider praying with your style-
Scott talked about fasting on Sunday Watch Sunday’s message here. Are you called to fast food, drink, media, etc? Fasting is a wonderful way to make room for God. Again, our spiritual formation model gives ways for you to open as you are made and not a one-size fits all spirituality.
Check out these Nine Ways according to your Enneagram Personality Style to fast and open your way to freedom?
What if you let go of your desire for power and control and the lie that you haven’t done enough.” And for 40 days-
Style Eight: Fast the need to be against
Style Nine: Fast the need to avoid conflict
Style One: Fast the need to be perfect
What if you fasted the desire for affection, esteem, approval and the lie that you are not enough. And for 40 days-
Style Two: Fast the need to be needed
Style Three: Fast the need to succeed
Style Four: Fast the need to be special
What if you let go of your desire for survival and security and the lie that you haven’t don’t have enough. And for 40 days-
Style Five: Fast the need to know it all
Style Six: Fast the need to be secure
Style Seven: Fast the need to avoid pain
If we are willing and open to this way of praying through the Season of Lent, Easter Sunday will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and could be a resurrection in you!
Are you interested? Is there a fresh desire to pray in the way you’re made? Join us Sunday live or live stream Crossroads or watch for the podcast as we take the journey 40 days: 9 ways!
Praying with you,
Clare and Scott
To grow in your relationship with God based on you Personality Style read our books Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram and Motions of the Soul.
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