50+ Purposeful Things to Do for Lent

Things to Do for Lent

Aside from giving up things, adding these positive habits to your daily routine can make your lent more meaningful too:

1. Start reading the bible. You don’t have to read the entire Bible. Even with a few verses a day, you could finish an entire chapter or two at the end of Lent.
2. Do a prayer walk. As the name suggests, a prayer walk involves walking to a certain place while praying. Doing this helps clear your mind and feel more of God’s presence.
3. Visit churches. In some places, “Visita Iglesia” or church visit is a tradition during lent. You can start this tradition in your family too.
4. Start a devotion. If you haven’t practiced a devotion yet, now is the best time to start one.
5. Read on the lives of saints. They can be a real source of inspiration if we want to become better Catholics.
6. Donate to charity. Alms-giving is one of the foundations of lent.
7. Volunteer for a cause. Volunteerng not only helps you give back. It also allows you to learn more about life through other people’s experiences.
8. Share a meal with those in need. Doing good and sharing with others are sacrifices that are pleasing to the Lord (Hebrews 13:16)
9. Declutter your house. A clean house leads to a clear mind, making it easier to meditate and reflect.
10. Develop your empathy. Practicing charity starts with empathy.
11. Practice forgiveness. This is one of the best gifts you can give yourself this lent.
12. Start a gratitude journal. As mentioned, it’s the season to give thanks and appreciate your blessings too.
13. Read a book. Now is a good time to put your phone down and pick up a book.
14. Go on a healing retreat. It’s a great time to do a mental and emotional detox too.
15. Spread awareness on certain issues. Educating others on the issues you care about is the first step to putting an end to it.
16. Organize a fundraising for the less fortunate. Donating your own money is great but encouraging others to do the same is much better.
17. Do random acts of kindness. Just like the kindness God has shown us, we should be kind to others too (Ephesians 4:32).
18. Feed stray animals. Charity isn’t only applicable to people. Stray animals need your help too.
19. Attend mass in a church you don’t regularly go to. It’s an opportunity to meet new people and expand your prayer group.
20. Join a Bible study group. If you already have one, you can invite other people to join our group too.
21. Encourage others to read the Bible. This lenten season is a great opportunity to spread the word of God too.
22. Start a spiritual diary. Write down all your reflections and realizations. They can be a great source of inspiration in times when life isn’t going your way.
23. Watch Christian movies. Aside from the life lessons you can glean from them, it’s an opportunity to bond with your family too.
24. Meditate with the Stations of the Cross. Most Catholic churches install Stations of the Cross during lent. Each station reflects a scene in the story of Christ’s passion and death.
25. Cook a meat-free dish. It not only helps you abstain from meat but also prevents you from spending on take-out or food deliveries.
26. Make a conscious effort to speak kindly to others. Whether its gestures or words, kindness can make a lot of difference.
27. Free your mind of thoughts that are preventing you from connecting with God. We all have evil thoughts, whether we admit it or not. But this lent, make a conscious effort to clear your mind of hateful thoughts.
28. Pray for somebody. Our prayers are the best gifts we can give to others.
29. Go to confession. The Sacrament of Penance gives us the opportunity to repent from our sins and recover the grace of friendship with God.
30. Listen/sing along to worship songs. Worship songs are a form of prayer too.
31. Catch up with your loved ones. If you’ve been too busy to spend time with your loved ones all this time, this Lent can be a good time to catch up with them.
32. Workout daily. Exercise clears your mind and helps you focus better.
33. Get enough sleep. Make sure to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day.
34. Wake up early. Waking up earlier than usual gives you more time to pray, meditate, and exercise.

Why We Need to “Sacrifice” for Lent

While tradition dictates that we make small sacrifices for lent, many of us are still not sure why we do it.

So why do we need to sacrifice for lent?

One of the main reasons why we celebrate Lent is to commemorate the sacrifice Jesus made when he died on the cross more than two millennia ago.

As you know, Jesus died for our sins. He gave up His life so we could be saved.

Making small sacrifices during Lent, therefore, is a small price to pay for the gift of salvation. It’s also an opportunity for us to share in the sufferings of Christ. Doing this not only strengthens our faith in God but also helps us understand and appreciate the magnitude of His sacrifice.

We may not be able to give up our life for him. But in our own little ways, we can make Him feel that His sacrifice was not in vain.