Keeping Your Discipline

After making your choices and beginning your discipline, it is not necessary to share your choices or your acts of love with anyone else. In fact, anonymity is regarded as better (Matt.6:1-7, 16-18).

Don't be too hard on yourself, too rigorous, or too legalistic. The idea is to have a discipline that moves you spiritually closer to God, not one that focuses you solely on your discipline.

If you break your discipline, you certainly will not be condemned eternally. However, breaking promises to God is not something to take lightly. So if you break your discipline, simply repent quietly and start over. Remember that Peter denied Jesus and all the others abandoned him. Yet all repented and were welcomed by Jesus after the resurrection.

A Lenten Discipline Worksheet

THE CHURCH'S TRADITION

A. Repentance:  Corporate Confession on Ash. Wed., Maundy Thu., and all Sundays in Lent, Private Confession by appt. & during Holy Week.

B. Prayer:  Holy Communion on all Sundays and Holy Days, Daily Private Prayer.

C. Fasting:  Ash Wed., Good Friday, all Fridays in Lent, Self-denial all the days of Lent.

D. Works of Love:  Almsgiving, volunteer work, helping others

MY DISCIPLINE FOR THIS LENT

A. For Repentance, I will:

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B. For Prayer, I will:

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C. For Fasting, I will:

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D. For Works of Love, I will:

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Other topics in the Handbook Of Lent:

• An Invitation to Lent 
• What Is Lent?
• The Discipline of Lent
  • Lent and Repentance
  • Lent and Prayer
  • Lent and Fasting
  • Lent and Works of Love
  • Lent and Beginning Your Discipline
  • Lent and Keeping Your Discipline
• Lent And How To Make the Sign of the Cross
• Lent and Confession: Should I Go to Confession?
• How to Go to Confession During Lent
  • from Martin Luther's Small Catechism
• Lent and The Tradition of the Stations of the Cross
• Lent and The Triduum - The Three Sacred Days
  • Lent and Maundy Thursday
  • Lent and Good Friday
  • Lent and The Great Vigil of Easter
• Lent and Blessings over Food at Easter

Source: The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel - Evangelical Church in America

• Handbook For Lent - Keeping Your Discipline