Wednesday, February 18, 2026, is Ash Wednesday, a holy day that marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a 40-day season in the Christian calendar (excluding Sundays) that serves as a time of repentance, fasting, and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and runs through Thursday, April 2, which is also known as Maundy, or Holy, Thursday — the Christian holy day that commemorates the Last Supper and the washing of the disciples’ feet.

Lent is 40 days long to represent the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before starting his own ministry.

Christians observe Lent in many different ways, and in Protestant churches there are no strict guidelines. The emphasis is on a person’s unique spiritual journey to become more like Christ and remember the sacrifices of Christ. Some abstain from certain foods or certain habits, while others adopt increased prayer, do intentional acts of service, or study Scripture. 

For some Christians, praying over the 14 stations of the cross can be a good way to draw closer to Christ and meditate on the suffering and grace of God that leads to our salvation.

Let’s take a look at the 14 stations of the cross, what they are, and why knowing about them can help us become better disciples of Jesus Christ.

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Clutter is one of those things that drives me absolutely bonkers. I don’t know what it is, but finding scraps of paper, things out of place, or a bunch of stuff everywhere makes me feel chaotic, like my circumstances are somehow out of control. 

Maybe it’s silly, but that’s one of the reasons I love to travel so much. When I get to stay in a hotel room, everything is so neat and clean. Even if it is devoid of character, I find it incredibly soothing to be in an environment where everything is simple. 

Perhaps this is why, when I learned a decade ago about the minimalism movement, it immediately spoke to my heart. And I think it’s because of what I shared above. Too many things (or people, or noises) around me stress me out. 

If you’re not familiar with minimalism, it essentially embraces living a simple life with fewer but carefully selected things and fewer commitments to help a person gain more focus about the things that truly matter.

For me, what matters is God foremost, so minimalism speaks to me in that it helps me push aside worldly concerns to focus better on the Lord. 

Now, a few disclaimers. I live in a single-family home with four teens, a husband, three cats, a large dog, and lots of stuff. I’m not claiming to be an expert in this in the least, nor am I a model for what minimalism looks like. Like personal holiness, I’m not sure I’ll ever truly “arrive” at a fully minimalist lifestyle. It’s simply something I strive for as much as possible. 

You can apply minimalism to so many different areas of your life, and it doesn’t look the same way for everybody. Little changes can make a big difference. Some people embrace minimalism for the environmental benefits, such as a smaller carbon footprint. Others embrace it as a philosophy. For me, I just like that it helps me focus on the most important things in life: loving God and loving others.

I also find it really helps me not be so tempted by materialism. All around me, things clamor for my attention, urging me to buy, buy, buy. It can get so tempting to always want more. But things are not the path to heaven. Jesus is. And when I am focusing on things, I’m not focusing enough on him. As the apostle Paul urged us in Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” 

Here, I will share a few examples of ways we can apply minimalism to our lives, all with great spiritual gain. 

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I’m certain we’ve all been there — that moment when everything in life seems to come to an overwhelming point and we’re left frustrated, wondering how we can possibly handle all the challenges going on right now.

We vow to make changes, sure that with enough will, persistence, and hard work we can overcome the obstacles before us. But sometimes in all this persistence we hit a wall, confusing the things we can control with the things far beyond our control.

When we expend a massive amount of energy and worry trying to change or impact the things beyond our control, it becomes an exercise in futility, leading to irritation, despair, and even burnout.

The Bible has much to say about finding rest in the Lord. True rest is relief from anxiety; it’s understanding there are things beyond our control that God alone can handle. It’s trusting that God does indeed care about these things and has a plan for them, but there’s little to nothing we can do on our own about them.

In Psalm 46:10 the Lord reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

In Jeremiah 32:27, he says, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Let’s take a look at the things we can control and the things beyond our control, understanding that God is with us in all of them.

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Many Christians are surprised to learn how much of the original concept of Thanksgiving was spiritual, as well as how many Bible stories echo the need for thanksgiving-type celebrations.

After the hottest July on record, many people are looking forward to fall. Not only does the season typically bring much cooler temperatures, but it kicks off a number of beloved holidays and festivals, from back-to-school time and fall football games to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Fall decorations abound, and stores are selling pumpkin-spice everything, from candle and lattes to lotion and desserts.

Many of us look forward to some special fall traditions too, and for people of faith, we often seek ways to make these activities more meaningful.

Here are some ways you can incorporate God’s Word into your favorite fall activities.

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It can be difficult to pray when you are feeling distraught, lost, or flattened by fear. If you are experiencing severe or crippling anxiety, you might feel like you don’t have the words to utter about your feelings of overwhelm or chaos, or you don’t know where to begin. Here, then, are six prayers you can pray when you are feeling anxious: Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Yolya

Sometimes, it takes getting outdoors to clear the mind and get back in touch with ourselves. But it can also be a wonderful place to reconnect with God, too.

Here are seven ways spending time in nature can help your soul refresh and get back on track with the Lord of all creation:

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Suicide is a tragedy for all involved. But it also goes against God's command not to kill, making it a sin. So does that mean that Christians who take their own lives are barred from eternity with Christ? Not at all.

The world tells us we can build our own identity based on whatever we want. Just "follow your heart." But while these worldly identities are subject to change, our identity in God is secure. Let's take a look at who exactly God says we are.

In this parable, a man has such a good harvest that he decides to build more barns, store up his excess, and live comfortably for a while. But Jesus calls this man a fool. Is the Lord anti-wealth in this parable, or is there something deeper going on in the man's heart?

Be ready. It’s a directive repeated often throughout Scripture, whether in parables or direct commands from our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus promised one day he would return with great power and glory. But, he said, “About that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mathew 24:36). Indeed, it will seem to come out of nowhere, like the flood came in the time of Noah, with people eating and drinking and getting married right up until the end.

“That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man,” Jesus said. “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left” (Matthew 24:39-41).

In the next chapter, using the parable of the ten virgins with the oil lamps (Matthew 25:1-13), Jesus further explains that this is why it is important always to be ready and to keep watch. We are to be like the five wise virgins who were ready for the bridegroom’s return.

Yet many of us wonder: Exactly how are we to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ? 

Here are eight ways you can be ready for Christ’s return:

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Theologians spend their entire lives studying it. But children's Sunday School songs cover it in a verse or two. So which is it? Is the gospel simple or complex?

We who are in Christ have a lot to look forward to, not least of which is a perfected, glorified body. But what exactly does that mean? Do we know what these bodies will look like or do? And what's wrong with our current bodies, anyway?