Posted on: 19th February 2026

This week marks the start of Lent: a time where many Christians choose to fast, to give up something, or to take up a healthy habit.

Lent mirrors the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness before He stepped into His public ministry. This was an in-between season for Jesus. He had just been baptised by John in a glorious moment of the Spirit resting on Him like a dove and the Father speaking approval and love over Him. (Matthew 3:13-17)

However, this spectacular moment didn’t catapult Jesus into fame and glory, but it took Him into fasting and testing. His baptism did mark the start of something new, but there was still a season of consecration that the Spirit led Him into before the new season fully began. (Matthew 4:1-11)

There is also an interesting in-between time for the Israelites in the book of Joshua. Yes, they had spent 40 years in the wilderness in what was a drawn-out, transitional period between the old and the new, but there was another in-between time of consecration for them as well. When Moses died and Joshua took over as their leader, they had a glorious moment of crossing over the Jordan river into the promised land where God miraculously stopped the waters for them.

However, this glorious moment didn’t catapult them straight into taking possession of the land, but it took them into consecration. The whole nation had to be circumcised before they could continue.

‘And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.’ (Joshua 5:8)

This seems like a strange strategy from God. The army had to wait and heal before they could move on! It must have seemed disheartening for the people after such a great miracle.

God does not resist taking us into uncomfortable, in-between spaces. In fact, it’s a priority for Him because it’s in these places of consecration that we gain spiritual strength and purity of heart.

This period of Lent is not a time to simply practice discipline, but it is a time to experience the cost of consecration. It is a time not to focus simply on what you are giving up, but to focus on the ‘pioneer and perfecter of faith’ (Hebrews 12:2) that you are making space for.

I sense that God is searching at the moment for those who are pure in heart. Purity of heart is not dependent on gifts, talents or status. Purity comes from fire: from having all impurities burnt in the refining fire of God. There is a great cost.

If we want to be close to Jesus and live like Jesus, we need purity of heart. Purity doesn’t really affect what we are able to do, but it affects how we do things. Everything we do flows from the condition of our hearts. (Proverbs 4:23)

The question to consider is this: is living close to Jesus and living like Jesus worth the cost? Is He worth the cost of your time? Is He worth the cost of your comforts? Is He worth the cost of your desires? Is He worth the cost of your reputation?

Perhaps we know that the “correct” answer to this question is, “Yes of course! He is worthy of everything!” However, I also believe there is merit in taking time to truly count the cost and take seriously the call of Jesus. Don’t shy away from allowing your relationship with Him to have a depth and a history of conversation and wrestling.

There is a very real cost to praying a prayer like: ‘Create in me a pure heart, O God.’ (Psalm 51:10)

In this Lent season, however you might choose to engage, I would encourage you to choose to embrace an in-between season of discomfort and consecration, not for discipline’s sake, but for the sake of intimacy with Jesus.

It will be worth it.

But don’t take my word for it – try it.