Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter, drawing believers into a deeper relationship with God. The Bible offers verses that speak to the themes of fasting, prayer, and spiritual renewal observed during this solemn period. Join us as we journey through Lent together, guided by these verses of contemplation and devotion.
Bible Verses About Lent
Matthew 6:16 – The importance of genuine fasting during Lent
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”
Mark 2:20 – A new season of spiritual reflection
“But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”
Joel 2:12 – A call to heartfelt repentance during Lent
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Isaiah 58:6 – The true purpose of fasting and its effect
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”
Acts 13:2 – Seeking God’s guidance through prayer and fasting
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’
Matthew 4:2 – Jesus’s example of fasting in the wilderness
“After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
Luke 5:33 – Fasting as a practice among followers
“They said to him, ‘John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.’
2 Chronicles 7:14 – Humbling ourselves before God during Lent
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Matthew 6:18 – The importance of internal focus during Lent
“So that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Luke 18:12 – The attitude of humility in fasting
“I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”
James 4:10 – The effect of humbling ourselves before God
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
Matthew 11:28 – Seeking rest and renewal during Lent
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Psalm 51:17 – A heart of repentance is essential
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Matthew 5:6 – The blessing of hungering for righteousness
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Exodus 34:28 – Seeking God’s presence through fasting
“Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.”
Romans 12:1 – Offering our lives as a sacrifice during Lent
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercies, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Embracing transformation during Lent
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Psalms 35:13 – The spirit of humility and fasting
“Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered.”
Matthew 26:41 – The need for prayer and vigilance during Lent
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Isaiah 58:9 – God hears our cries during fasting
“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
Philippians 3:20 – Our focus should be on the eternal
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 3:2 – Setting our minds on spiritual matters during Lent
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Luke 11:13 – God gives good gifts to those who ask
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
James 1:5 – Seeking wisdom during the Lenten journey
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Exodus 34:14 – Worshiping God alone during this time
“Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
1 John 1:9 – Assurance of forgiveness for our sins
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Psalms 51:10 – Creating a clean heart in the process of repentance
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Matthew 23:12 – The value of humility
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Galatians 5:22-23 – The fruits of the Spirit during Lent
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trusting God throughout our Lenten journey
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
1 Peter 5:10 – Finding strength during our trials
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Romans 8:31 – Embracing the assurance of God’s support in our journey
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Psalm 16:11 – Discovering joy in God’s presence
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Hebrews 12:1 – Persevering through our Lenten focus
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Letting Go Of Things You Can’T Control
What Does the Bible Say About Lent
When we consider the topic of Lent, we find that the Bible doesn’t explicitly mention this period of 40 days of reflection, fasting, and prayer. However, the practices and themes associated with Lent are deeply grounded in Scripture.
Lent, as we observe it today, draws heavily on the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness, a pivotal period where He faced temptation and prepared for His ministry (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13). This time of self-denial and spiritual focus helps us mirror Christ’s example and intent, reminding us of our own need for repentance and dependence on God.
Moreover, the Bible is rich with themes of fasting and repentance. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s people turning to fasting as a way to seek God’s intervention or guidance, repent for their sins, or prepare for important spiritual events. For instance, the prophet Joel calls the people to return to God with fasting, weeping, and mourning (Joel 2:12-13). Similarly, Daniel sought God through fasting and prayer (Daniel 9:3). These instances reflect the spiritual disciplines that Lent encourages.
The spirit of Lent also invites us to a season of introspection, akin to King David’s prayer in Psalm 51 for a clean heart and a steadfast spirit. In this psalm, David expresses profound repentance and a deep desire for renewal. This aligns closely with the Lenten call to examine our lives, confess our sins, and turn back to God.
Paul’s letters frequently emphasize themes of self-discipline, renewal, and transformation. In Romans, we are admonished to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). This echoes the Lenten focus on sacrifice and inner change.
While the exact observance of Lent is a tradition developed by the early church rather than a Biblical mandate, the principles it embodies are steeped in Biblical teachings. The Lenten season harmonizes our walk with Christ’s journey and challenges us to grow deeper in our faith, echoing the timeless Biblical call to draw nearer to our Creator through fasting, prayer, and repentance.