Lent 2026 with Carrie
Lent 2026: Preparing My Heart for the 40 Days
February is here. What’s happening in February? Ash Wednesday. The beginning of Lent.
If you’ve checked out our podcast, you know we recently did a deep dive into when Lent began and why we practice it. But here’s a brief overview for anyone new to the concept.
Lent is the 40 days leading up to Good Friday—the day our Lord and Savior was crucified. Those 40 days represent the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4). Throughout Scripture, we see the significance of 40—40 days of rain in Noah’s time, 40 years in the wilderness for Israel—but during Lent, we specifically align our hearts with Jesus’ 40 days of fasting, testing, and total dependence on the Father.
For the past several years, I’ve actively participated in Lent. As Christians, we take this time to lean on God for strength. Sometimes that means giving something up. Sometimes it means adding something in. And often—it’s both.
Lent is also a season of generosity and compassion. It’s a time to give to others, serve others, and reflect Christ more intentionally.
Over the years, I’ve given up things like:
Cheese (I know… sounds random!)
Cussing (and to this day, I still don’t)
Drinking
Overeating
Overspending
Whatever it is, I try to ask myself:
What is distracting me from my walk with Christ?
What have I become too dependent on?
Because if I’m leaning too heavily on something else, I’m not leaning fully on the Father.
This year felt different.
This year was a little harder to decide…
I’ve fasted multiple times throughout the past year, and I honestly wasn’t sure what I needed to give up. Sometimes I immediately know. Other times, I have to sit with God in prayer and ask Him to search my heart.
Where am I lacking?
What needs to be reshaped?
Where do I need to grow?
Lent isn’t about restriction for the sake of restriction. It’s about refinement.
So…
My Lent Commitment for 2026
After praying about it, I realized something: social media has been adding stress I simply don’t need.
So this year, I’m limiting my social media—again. Not because social media is evil, but because I’ve noticed it can clutter my heart and mind. And I want clarity.
But I’m not just taking something away. I’m adding something too.
I’m committing to waking up and spending at least 15 minutes with God every single morning—no matter what.
No more, “just five more minutes.”
No more, “ten more minutes of sleep.”
If I’m already awake, those extra minutes lying in bed are minutes I could be spending with Him. And if I’m honest? I make excuses. This season is about removing the excuses.
So this year, I’m reducing one thing and increasing another.
Less scrolling.
More surrender.
Less noise.
More presence.
I’m excited to see where this season takes me. I’m excited to see the new habits that form. I’m excited to hear from God with a clearer heart and a quieter mind.
Lent isn’t about perfection. It’s about posture. It’s about drawing closer to the One who gave everything for us.
If you’re participating in Lent this year, I’d love to know—what is God asking you to lay down? And what is He inviting you to pick up?
Let’s walk these 40 days intentionally.
God’s Love and Mine,
Carrie
