Lent is a season of fasting and preparation for Easter (or Resurrection Sunday).

This year, the 40 days of Lent begin on March 2 (Ash Wednesday) and end on April 16 (Holy Saturday). 

I’ve been very excited for the month of March to get here, since that is when I’ll be able to embark on a Scripture reading plan for this special season of realignment, repentance and self-denial.

Whether you need a reading plan or a series of devotionals to follow along, you’ll find something to fuel your spiritual journey in this handy little list.

5 LENT READING PLANS AND DEVOTIONALS

1. A plan that’s chronological

40 Days of Lent is a devotional reading plan that you can find on YouVersion’s Bible app (most of the plans I’ll be listing come from this platform, a personal favourite of mine).

At 47 days, it’s one of the longer ones in terms of plan duration.

But you shouldn’t see it as daunting since, as a chronological look at Jesus’ last week on earth through the gospel accounts, it only offers the Scripture itself without commentary or reflections, unlike some of the other plans in this list.

In keeping with Lent tradition, you also get to rest on Sundays.

As such, it’s a great tool to help us take in season-relevant chunks of Scripture and meditate on them, but it should perhaps be paired with a more in-depth Bible study or devotional material.

#3 in this list would be a good shout!

2. A plan to transform your life

Next up, Make Space for What Matters: 5 Spiritual Habits for Lent is a 7-day plan focused on building specific spiritual disciplines like prayer, meditation, generosity and fasting.

Titling it Make Space for What Matters really makes sense since Lent isn’t just about removing, but also replacing.

To that end, each day has different verses and different disciplines to reflect on and apply. It’s written in a very accessible manner, but still encourages deep thinking.

If you have been asking God to transform your life, why not start with an application-focused plan like this? I’m saving this one myself!

3. A plan about Jesus for Holy Week 

Also coming in at 7 days long, The Story of Easter is a very narrative and story-focused one.

The readings selected are all from Jesus’ last week on earth — they are a little lengthier though still manageable at 1-2 chapters a day.

The commentary that accompanies Scripture is punchy, direct and written to stir sober reflection.

It’s also worth noting that it seems to be one of the more widely read Lent plans on the app at over 250,000 plan completions!

4. A plan on dependence and forgiveness

The Heart of Easter by Joyce Meyer Ministries is focused on trusting in God, relying on Him and forgiveness.

If those words mean something to you in this season, it might be well worth your time embarking on a plan to further explore what God might be saying to you in these areas of your life.

It is one of the shorter plans too at just 4 days long, so why not give it a shot?

5. A plan to give you hope

The shortest plan in our list is loaded with beautiful Scripture and meaty commentary, which all centre on hope and taking heart in God.

It’s worth noting that 2 out of 3 days of Living Hope: A Countdown to Easter feature passages from both the Old and New Testament.

I especially love the commentary that often lands on deep questions we scarcely stop to ask ourselves — the application for readers is laid out in point form so the takeaways are always clear.

I’ll definitely be doing this plan in the days directly leading up to Easter!

AND FINALLY…

… gotta support local.

Under their #READY initiative, our good friends at Cru Singapore are doing something special this Lent with a three-pronged approach to see young adults embrace a lifestyle of winsome evangelism:

1. Share stories
2. Start spiritual conversations
3. Seek to equip with resources such as #READY webinars and online content by The Thirst Collective (that’s us!)

Go get your feet wet and check it out for yourself on Telegram right here. 

That aside, let’s remember the reason for the season.

As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, let’s posture ourselves right so we can worship Him in spirit and in truth.

So whether it’s reading, repentance, fasting… whatever it is, let’s draw a little closer and go deeper with the Lord this Lent.