Lent is a season of reflection, renewal, and preparation leading up to Easter. Whether you’re familiar with Lent or just exploring its meaning, we’ve put together five weeks of reflections and resources to encourage you on the journey. Each week, we’ll introduce a new theme with a resource—whether it’s a short devotional, an act of kindness, a prayer, or a reflection—designed to be accessible to anyone, whether you’re part of a church or just looking for a moment of peace in your day.
Week 1: Preparing Our Hearts
Lent invites us to slow down, pause, and prepare our hearts. But how do we do that? Whether you’re stepping into Lent for the first time or it’s part of your yearly rhythm, Week 1 is about intentional preparation. Think of it like getting ready for a big trip—you clear your schedule, pack what you need, and leave behind what you don’t.
Preparation could mean letting go of distractions, making space for quiet reflection, or committing to a new habit. The heart of it is simple: creating space for God to move. This week, what if you focused less on what you “should” do and more on what would help your soul breathe?
Whether setting aside 5 minutes each day, starting a gratitude journal, or just sitting in silence, every small step prepares your heart for something bigger.
🖥️ Video/Teaching Resource:
➡️ RightNow Media – “The Cost of Control”
(Note: You do need a RightNow Media account, but many churches already have this.)
📖 Devotional Resource:
➡️ Focus on the Family (Australia) – Devotional Series on Surrender & Trust
They have excellent free devotionals under their ‘Faith & Culture’ section, especially related to spiritual growth and emotional health during Lent.
“Sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned to make space for the life God has for you.” – Joyce Meyers
Week 2: Living with Intention
Lent isn’t just about letting go—it’s also about leaning in. Week 2 invites us to live with intention. What would it look like to approach your days thoughtfully, choosing rhythms that bring life instead of just reacting to whatever comes? Living with intention could be as simple as setting a daily reminder to pray, reaching out to someone who needs encouragement, or planning your week around rest instead of busyness. When we slow down enough to choose what matters, we leave room for God to shape our days and hearts. This week, we’ve gathered resources to inspire you to live intentionally. Whether you follow along with a devotional, watch a teaching, or just take 5 minutes to pause, each small act helps create a life of purpose and presence. 🖥️ Video/Teaching Resource: ➡️ ‘Choosing What Matters Most’ – A free teaching from Focus on the Family (Australia) exploring how to align daily decisions with your deeper values and faith. 📖 Devotional Resource: ➡️ Bible Society Australia – 5-Day Devotional: Living with Purpose during Lent
Week 3: Building Connections
Lent isn’t a solo journey. It’s a season that reminds us how much we need God and each other. Week 3 invites us to build connections—real, intentional ones. In a world that often pulls us apart or keeps relationships surface-level, Lent is a chance to reconnect: with God, with our hearts, and with the people around us. This week is about slowing down enough to notice—who needs a word of encouragement? Who have I drifted from? Where is God inviting me to step closer to someone? We’ve gathered resources to help you strengthen your connections, from devotional reflections to simple acts of kindness that open the door for deeper conversations. 🖥️ Video/Teaching Resource: ➡️ “The Power of Encouragement” – A free video from Hope Media Australia (in their Real Hope series) about why encouragement matters in Christian community.
📖 Devotional Resource: ➡️ Joyce Meyer – Creating Great Relationships – A practical guide to enhancing relationships through understanding and love.
Week 4: Hope & Positivity
This week, we’re focusing on hope and positivity—two things we all need, but don’t always feel naturally. Life can be unpredictable, and it’s easy to get caught up in stress, bad news, or the weight of what’s going wrong. But this week is an invitation to pause and notice what’s still good—the quiet wins, the people who show up, the moments that make you smile.
What Does Choosing Hope Look Like?
It’s not about ignoring the hard stuff. It’s about making space for possibility—believing things can improve, even if they’re not perfect today. This week, you could: ✅ Start a gratitude list (just 3 things each day). ✅ Leave a kind note for someone. ✅ Find one hopeful story to share with a friend.
A Thought to Reflect On
Where do you notice hope in your life right now? It could be small—a moment of kindness from a stranger, a sunny morning, or a conversation that made you feel lighter. “Hope is the anchor for the soul.” – Hebrews 6:19
🖥️ Video Resource
➡️ TED Talk – “The Science of Positivity” by Alison Ledgerwood A practical, research-based look at how we can train our minds to notice what’s good, even when our brains naturally focus on the negative. 🔗 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XFLTDQ4JMk
📖 Devotional Resource
➡️ YouVersion – “Hope in Hard Times” A 7-day devotional encouraging you to cultivate hope even when life feels uncertain. 🔗 Available on the YouVersion app.
Week 5: Cultivating Compassion
This week is all about compassion—for yourself, for others, and for the world around you. Compassion doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes, it’s as simple as: ✅ Checking in on a friend who’s been quiet lately. ✅ Choosing patience in a frustrating moment. ✅ Be a little kinder to yourself when things don’t go to plan.
Why Compassion Matters
We’re all carrying more than what shows on the surface. Compassion reminds us that everyone has a story and that kindness creates space for understanding and connection.
A Thought to Reflect On
What’s one small way you can show compassion this week—to yourself, someone you love, or even a stranger?
🌐 Helpful Resource
➡️ Brené Brown on Empathy (Short Animation) This 3-minute video explains the difference between empathy and sympathy—and how real compassion starts with understanding someone’s experience. 🔗 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw
Week 6: Renewal & Celebration
We’re here—the final 10 days of this Lent journey! This week is all about renewal and celebration. After weeks of slowing down, letting go, and making space for what matters, we now pause to celebrate how far we’ve come—even if the changes are subtle.
What Does Renewal Mean?
It’s about feeling refreshed—not because life is perfect but because you’ve created space for what nourishes you. It’s about celebrating progress over perfection and noticing where life feels lighter. This week, why not: ✅ Celebrate a small win (even just showing up counts). ✅ Share something you’ve learned over the past 6 weeks. ✅ Create your moment of joy—big or small.
A Thought to Reflect On
What’s one thing you want to carry forward after this season?
🌐 Helpful Resource
🖥️ Video/Teaching Resource:
➡️ “The Power of Silence & Joy” – John Mark Comer John Mark Comer unpacks how celebration and joy are vital parts of our faith and how we can cultivate them in daily life. 🔗 Watch: John Mark Comer – Why Joy is a Spiritual Discipline (Check under the “Simplicity” or “Joy” sections!)
📖 Devotional Resource:
➡️ “Practicing Gratitude” – YouVersion 5-Day Plan A short but powerful devotional on gratitude and renewal, helping us focus on what God has done over the past season. 🔗 Read: YouVersion Bible Plan – Practicing Gratitude (Search “Practicing Gratitude” on YouVersion!)
Lent Wrap up and Easter Celebrations
As we move into the final week before Easter, it’s a perfect time to pause and reflect on the deeper meaning of this season. Whether you’re familiar with the Easter story or not, it’s a time to reflect on themes of sacrifice, hope, and renewal.
Good Friday invites us to think about the ultimate sacrifice—the giving of one’s life for others. It’s a day to reflect on what it means to give without expecting anything in return and the courage it takes to stand up for what is right, even in the hardest moments.
Holy Saturday reminds us of waiting—of being in that space between loss and hope. It’s a time when we sit with uncertainty but also hold onto the hope that something better is coming.
Finally, Easter Sunday is a celebration of new beginnings. It’s the reminder that no matter how dark things may seem, there is always the potential for new life and new opportunities. It’s a day to consider how we can emerge from difficult times stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.
This week, whether you’re preparing for a spiritual holiday or simply reflecting on life’s seasons, take time to reflect on what renewal means for you. What does it look like to embrace the hope of new beginnings in your life, especially after a challenging time?
🌐 Helpful Resource
🖥️ Video/Teaching Resource:
Video Devotion on Reflection from Eternity News:
‘Jesus Says I Am’ a Lent teaching series by Common Grace. This year, Common Grace’s Lent series is focused on being attentive to the centre of our faith. Who is Jesus? Who does Jesus say he is? What is our response to who Jesus says he is? The seven ‘I AM’ statements of Christ recorded in the Gospel of John provide a focal point around which to reflect on these questions.
📖 Devotional Resource:
Sermon on Easter Reflection from City on a Hill:
Preparing Your Heart for Easter: A Reflection on the Cross by City on a Hill Church. This article focuses on the importance of reflecting on the cross and preparing spiritually for Easter, encouraging both personal and community reflection during the final days of Lent.
Thanks for journeying through Lent & Easter with us