To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears. . . . . 1 Corinthians 9:25

We must deny ourselves this Lent more than any other Lent in known History, I think we can forget about fasting from food, we must deny ourselves social contact and physical connection with others, apart from those in our homes....for some, even with those in our homes.

I have a pre-existing medical condition and was already in lock-down but one of my flat-mates works at an International Hotel chain and still has to go to work as they have guests there in quarantine, so we must take precaution above and beyond what most of you are experiencing. The schools are now shut and children are all “at Home” and you can’t taken them anywhere. A NIGHTMARE FOR MANY PARENTS.

You are being stretched! When you are being stretched spiritually, your faith in God grows. When you are being stretched mentally, your old ideas are challenged and replaced with new ones. When your being stretched relationally, selfishness dies and love grows. God allows us to have stretching experiences that prepare us for the race he has called us to run in life. I think for all of us, this is going to be one of those times.

Remember that God never allows anyone to run with Him who hasn’t been stretched in their thinking, their faith, and their ability to live and love. So during the difficult time ahead, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that God is stretching you. It’s the stretching of the soul that enables us to face situations we think will kill us, but don’t; to endure times when we think we won’t make it, but do. This difficult time is a deep knee bend of life.

View this time as an opportunity to spend valuable quality time with your immediate family, or those with whom you share a home. Spend time playing together and praying together and grow those relationships. Focus on Jesus, get your family together to pray for our country and our world. If you live alone, look at it as an opportunity to spend quality time with the Lord.

You don’t however have to lose contact with the Christian Community. Many churches are reaching out and connecting online including our own Anglican Diocese. Bishop Justin and friends held an online church service on Sunday and more will be available CLICK HERE. You can sign up and join in. This is not a time to quit because we can’t go to Church – this is time to pray and to bring Church into our homes and our hearts.