Western Christian churches today mark Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, the traditional 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penitence before Easter.

To observe the day, many Christian churches hold services during which the foreheads of the faithful are marked with the sign of the cross with ashes made from last year's Palm Sunday branches as a sign of repentance and reminder of mortality.

A clergy person or, in some cases, a lay person, applies the ashes with variations of the phrase:

Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

—Genesis 3:19

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.

—Mark 1:15

Repent, and hear the good news.

—Mark 1:15

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. The 40 days of Lent do not include Sundays. Easter falls on April 4 this year.

Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and it marks the beginning of Lent. Ashes were used in ancient times, according to the Bible, to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. An ancient example of one expressing one's penitence is found in Job 42:3-6. Job says to God: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. The other eye wandereth of its own accord. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (vv. 5-6, KJV) Other examples are found in several other books of the Bible including, Numbers 19:9, 19:17, Jonah 3:6, Matthew 11:21, and Luke 10:13, and Hebrews 9:13. Ezekiel 9 also speaks of a linen-clad messenger marking the forehead of the city inhabitants that have sorrow over the sins of the people. All those without the mark are destroyed.

It marks the start of a forty day period which is apparently an allusion to the separation of Jesus in the desert to fast and pray. During this time he was tempted. Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. While not specifically instituted in the Bible text, the 40 day period of repentance is also analogous to the 40 days during which Moses repented and fasted in response to the making of the Golden calf. (Jews today follow a 40 day period of repenting during the High Holy Days from Rosh Chodesh Elul to Yom Kippur.)

I find it interesting that the fasting associated with Lent spawned pre-Lenten celebrations such as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) and Carnivale as a last chance to eat, drink and be merry before the 40 days of self denial began.

I would encourage you to use this opportunity to fast or lay something aside for God. The concept of Lent is a great tool to keep our hearts and minds focused on God and His plans for our lives. As we continue in our teaching series on prayer, this is a great opportunity to use the Lenten season as a time of prayer and fasting for breakthrough in our lives, our families lives and in the our communities. May the Lord continue to lead you in the adventure, joy and abundance that He has for you.