Lent is a time when Christians focus on living, prayer, and faster as a way to grow closer to God. This day of observances begins on Ash Wednesday and goes on for six weeks before Easter Sunday. With this sacred tradition, what does the Bible have to say about it? Here is a look at some good lenten Bible verses to get you focused.
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.” | 1 Corinthians 10:23
“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” | Luke 6:12
“And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” | Matthew 9:15
“And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” | Acts 15:9
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” | Mark 1:15
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” | 1 Peter 1:3
“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.” | Ezekiel 18:21
“By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” | Genesis 3:19
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” | John 3:16
“For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” | 2 Corinthians 6:2
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” | 1 Peter 5:6
“I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” | Isaiah 43:25
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” | John 1:1
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.” | Genesis 3:19
“In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!” | Mark 7:7-9
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” | Isaiah 58:6-7
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” | Matthew 6:16-18
“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. ” | John 13:1
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” | Matthew 6:1-34
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple…” | Matthew 4:1-25
“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; and he relents over disaster.” | Joel 2:12-2:13
God makes a lot of promises in the Bible such as bringing hope and direction into your life. Check out the following video on some of the top verses and words of wisdom shared by Jesus himself.
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.