Change My Heart, Oh God!

Today is Ash Wednesday. It kicks off the season of Lent -- a 40-day journey leading to Easter. It’s a season of reflection, renewal, and re-centering our hearts on Christ. But for those who’ve never observed it, Lent might sound like an overly somber religious ritual -- kind of like giving up chocolate just to prove we can.

But Lent isn’t about proving anything. It’s about purging the clutter -- the spiritual lint -- that’s collected in our hearts. You know lint, right? Those pesky little fuzzies that mysteriously appear on your favorite black sweater?

We go through life collecting all kinds of “lint” -- bad habits, distractions, grudges, misplaced priorities -- and Lent is our invitation to roll out the spiritual lint remover and make space for God.

So, how do we do that? Traditionally, people fast, give up certain luxuries, or commit to acts of kindness. But it’s not about deprivation -- it’s about transformation. It’s shifting from “It’s all about me” to “It’s all about You, God.”

Think about it -- how often do our minds drift toward what’s next? The next meal, the next show, the next email, the next vacation. We’re wired for the “next.” But Lent calls us to pause. To be still. To remember.

What if, for the next 40 days, we shook up our routines just enough to refocus? Maybe we skip the morning coffee (don’t panic -- just hear me out) and, instead, wake up with a prayer of gratitude.

Maybe we silence our phones during meals and truly connect with loved ones. Maybe we take a walk instead of scrolling mindlessly, using that time to talk with God.

Lent isn’t about obligation; it’s about invitation. An invitation to clear the noise, refocus our hearts, and prepare for the greatest celebration of all -- Easter aka Resurrection Sunday. Because when we truly see what Jesus did for us, when we let His love sink in, something remarkable happens.

We change.

We let go of the old, embrace the new, and come alive in Him.

And isn’t that a resurrection worth celebrating?