40 DAYS OF LENT
Wednesday 18th February – Thursday 2nd April 2026
Lent is a ‘holy’ season in the Christian calendar. By saying holy, we’re saying it is ‘set apart for the Lord’, or, in biblical language ‘consecrated’ to Him.
Lent is typically marked by fasting (or abstaining from things that keep us from time with God), prayer and reading Scripture.
PRIORITISE PRAYER
Fixed Hour Prayer
The idea of fixed hour prayer is simple. To orient our lives around meeting Jesus in prayer.
An intentional season of not letting our lifestyle dictate our relationship with Jesus, and instead allowing Jesus to shape our lifestyle and agenda.
How does it work?
Pick 3 or more regular times
e.g. 6am, 12noon, 7pm if you’re an earlybird, or maybe 9am, 1pm and 11pm if you’re a night owl.
Consider your work patterns, kids needs.
Pick 'how' you're going to pray
e.g. start with silent prayer and praying.a Psalm at 7am, the Lord’s prayer at 12.30pm and thanksgiving in the evening. Below we have some prayers as resources. There are loads of great options.
Be prepared!
This won’t work without intention. Set calendar or phone reminders, mark it in the diary, invite your spouse to join you, re-think the morning routine etc. If you’re a smartphone person, you might find the free Inner Room app by 24/7 Prayer helpful.
PRIORITISE SCRIPTURE
Read Scripture
If you’re following the BREAD reading plan (or another that’s working for you), continue to engage with that.
But perhaps you’re new to the Bible, or you’re not sure what Lent is all about. We’ve prepared a reading plan for you, which you can download below.
Prayer Resources
Here are a few prayers/models/resources to help you.
There are far more out there too!
Silence is the mode of prayer where we come to God for His purposes – not just with a list of stuff. Here’s a 5-minute guided prayer we prepared a couple of years ago as part of our teaching around silence.
Based on the prayer Jesus gave us in Matthew 6. A simple prayer you could pray on the go, or at the desk in work:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
App-based daily guided Scripture reading and prayer prepared by 24/7 Prayer. Info and download here.
Typically an evening prayer, Daily Examen explores your day and re-centres you upon God.
The Psalms are the prayer and worship book of David (and others), and are a superb place for us to spend time in reflection and prayer. Here’s a resource that might help you.
