Return to the Lord
46 Days Until Easter
Joel 2:12–13
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…
Today begins Lent, and before we go anywhere else, I want to take a moment to explain what this season actually is, because there is often confusion right at the start.
People will say, “Lent is 40 days,” and that is true. But if you actually count the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, you will quickly realize it is not 40. It is 46. Historically, the Church has called Lent the “40-day season” because it mirrors the great wilderness patterns of Scripture. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Israel wandered for 40 years. Moses was on the mountain for 40 days. Forty is the biblical number of preparation, testing, and drawing near to God.
The reason the calendar includes 46 days is because Sundays are not counted as fasting days. Every Sunday is meant to be a celebration of resurrection. Even in the middle of repentance, the Church has always said, “We do not forget Easter is coming.” Lent is 46 days on the calendar, but 40 days in the spiritual rhythm, and that is exactly what this journey is meant to be. A slow walk toward the cross. A daily return.
And part of that return, for many believers throughout history, has included fasting or giving something up. Not as a way to earn God’s love, but as a way to make space for God. Lent is an invitation to let go of something that dulls our spiritual hunger so that we can be more aware of Jesus.
Now, if you are reading this and you have not picked something yet, take a deep breath. There is plenty of time. This is not about getting it perfect on Day 1. It is about posture. You can start simply.
Maybe you give up social media scrolling. Maybe you fast from a certain comfort food. Maybe you step away from constant noise, streaming, or distraction. Maybe you choose to replace fifteen minutes of mindless consumption with fifteen minutes in Scripture and prayer. The point is not the thing itself. The point is what the thing reveals and what the space creates.
That is why the Lord says through Joel, “Rend your hearts, not your garments.” God is not after surface-level religion or performative sacrifice. He is after you. Lent is not about proving something. It is about coming home.
And the beautiful thing is this: we return not to an angry God, but to a gracious Father. Joel reminds us that the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. This is the invitation at the beginning of Lent.
Yet even now, return.
Over the next 46 days, my prayer is that The Morning Rise becomes a daily anchor for you. A steady rhythm in the morning. A way to walk with Jesus toward Easter with humility, clarity, and hope.
This is not about perfection. It is about returning.
Prayer
Jesus, as we begin this Lenten journey, we return to You. Not with empty religion, but with honest hearts. Give us wisdom as we fast and make space for You. Strip away distraction, form us in the quiet, and prepare us for the cross and the resurrection ahead. We come back to You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.