What is Ash Wednesday? What to expect on Ash Wednesday.

What is Ash Wednesday? What can you expect to happen on Ash Wednesday? Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday, begins with a worship service where we recognize our mortality, repent of our sins, and recommit to being Christ-like. Christians either choose to fast from something, like food, electronics, or social media or Christians take on something new, like prayer, or purging possessions, or service to others. In an Ash Wednesday service, usually pastor marks the sign of the cross on a person's forehead with ashes. Why ash on the forehead? In Biblical days, ashes were a sign of mortality and repentance. Mortality, because when we die, our bodies eventually decompose. . Repentance or mourning for sins or wrongs committed. People used to put ashes on their heads and dress in sackcloth. This was their way of confessing their sins and asking for forgiveness. Why palms? If you remember the Biblical story read on Palm Sunday, Jesus rides a donkey into Jerusalem while people wave palms in celebration of his arrival. The palms represent the celebration. The ashes and oil represent that sadness that happens a week later when Jesus dies on the cross. The oil represents our tears. Why a cross on the forehead? The cross reminds us of both Jesus' sacrifice and triumphant defeat of death. We wear the cross as a witness to others we encounter throughout our day. This is a time to ask for forgiveness. What is Lent? It's the forty days before Easter. Lent excludes Sundays because every Sunday is like a little Easter. Visit my PrayerLights Website to download my FREE How to Raise a Jesus-Loving Child Checklist: www.shawnmhowell.com Subscribe to my YouTube channel:    / prayerlights   Email me: [email protected] Follow me! Facebook:   / prayerlights36   Instagram:   / shawnmichellehowell   Twitter:   / shawnmhowell