Lent 2026 with Christina

40 Days of Focus - Intentional Stewardship. 

This year I’m focusing on intentionality and stewardship. So far, they have been loose goals of being intentional with my time in the word and my hours in a day and just making sure we are stewarding all of our blessings appropriately. 

But what does that mean in a tangible sense?! 

It sounds good, but I haven’t created any sound rules or habits from it to truly guide me. And I’ve realized that’s because I have been doing what I think it means or what seems easy instead of asking God what he wants me to gain from intentional stewardship. 

So, what better time than Lent to remedy this?

Going into Lent this year, I prayed over my phrase of the year, my marriage, my home, my boys, my body, my service and my career. I asked what was I being called to change, to steward better or to sacrifice? 

I was told 3 miles. 

The number three kept sticking out to me. And I kept on praying because why would I need to walk 3 miles? That’s not a lot in 40 days, so obviously I was missing something. & the more I prayed, I was. I wasn’t being called to walk three miles over Lent, I was being called to walk three miles every day. 

3 Miles Everyday. 45 Minutes to an Hour of walking … Everyday. 

Before I could look up the importance of this distance, podcasts, devotionals and sermons I was listening to started to tell me why this distance was important.

In ancient Asian culture, it is believed to be what they call the pace of God because it is the average walking pace of humans. They call this average the pace of God because God is walking beside each of us. And to catch God or walk with God, anyone can do it. He is accessible for everyone.

In ancient Judean culture the average distance between monastic retreats was three miles. The idea was the distance of three miles apart was a balance for the need of solitude to study while still having the closeness of community for help, fellowship and growth. 

In 1st Samuel 14, we read of this standoff between Saul and the Philistines. Jonathan arrives and says to his armor bearer let’s go over to them. He comes up with this plan because he says in 14:6, “…perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” This valley was a 3 mile journey he crossed in faith to lead a series of victories of God’s people over their enemies.

In the Luke, after Jesus’ resurrection we hear of two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. This has been translated to a roughly three mile journey. In their walk, a traveler joined them. He began to comfort them in their sorrow and explained the prophecy being fulfilled. This traveler was invited to stay and eat with them because they wanted to know more. When this traveler broke bread, their eyes were opened and it was Jesus. Then they returned to Jerusalem to share the news. Jesus was with them even when their eyes were closed.

So, I have been called not to give up but to add to my day this year. 3 miles every day, non-negotiable. 

Like these historical notes, I will walk these three miles as an act to keep pace with God, to remind me of the importance of time alone with him and time with him in community, to strengthen my faith as I walk through valley’s in life, and to remember he is always beside me to heal me and lead me. These three miles have been miles of many emotions so far, but my God has been with me each one.

As we continue in this season of Lent, I pray of your journey’s as well. & I challenge you to pursue the messages he is sending you, even if it is 3 miles. 

God’s Love and Mine, 

Christina