In this special Lean Into Lent episode 87 of Oasis of Hope, Drs. Johnson and Feyi Obamehinti give a shoutout to family values with another local couple that has been married for seventy years from listener feedback! The couple have three children, seven grand-children and fourteen great-grand-children. Let's add this to the tapestry of hallmarks of family values celebrations!
Lent started March 5, 2025 and will run through April 17, 2025, with Easter celebration on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray by giving them a template to follow every time they approach God the Father.
The Lord's Prayer gives us that framework as we observe Lent- the special period that precedes Easter. Right after Jesus was baptized, the Spirit of God descended and rested on Jesus Christ. This encounter empowered Jesus for the days that followed as He was led into the wilderness for 40 days of prayer and fasting (Matthew 4:1-11).
These 40 days are observed all over the world by many Christians during what we call Lent that provides us with the time to focus on what matters the most- a deeper relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that releases the power of God through intentional times of prayer, fasting, and worship.
During Lent followers of Christ have the opportunity to join hearts with other believers globally to cover the 10/40 Window in prayer. This specific area of the world has the largest unreached people groups. Our understanding as followers of Christ on this specific area of the world is paramount to an effective prayer according to James 5:16b.
We encourage followers of Christ to commit to praying for one of the 10/40 Window nations during these 40 days of Lent, our God will hear and release an avalanche of His love and power to save, deliver and heal His people.
Additional prayer requests during this time is a focus on reformation of God's church in doctrine, theology, and the awe of God. As we walk through Lent, let us turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full into His wonderful face. We will find that the angst of this world will grow strangely dim, and the light of God’s glory and grace will be multiplied upon our lives. With that fullest of God’s light in us, we will welcome Easter on April 20, 2025 with the resurrection power that breathes new life to all things.
Scripture invitation to join in Lent: "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life" (Revelation 22:17, NIV).