During this season of Lent many give up or do something in preparation for Easter. I remember giving up bubble gum for Lent when I was in middle school. I had just won a bubble blowing contest at our local mall, and I was given a case of Bubble Yum that I donated to a local charity so I could avoid temptation. I was happy when later, my Easter basket included a few fresh packs.

After analyzing thousands of tweets, Twitter shares that food items were three times as popular to give up as technology or personal habits like biting your fingernails. Many people give up fast food or snacks of any kind. And here’s an encouraging observation: more people pray during Lent, or at least Twitter says so.

I hope you find prayer while singing along with every song on the Fish. And, maybe it’s not too late to work on something else to give up, something that could extend past this time of preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and his victory over sin and death.

Could you give up complaining or negativity? How about worry and comparison? When you give up bitterness and distractions that lead you away from Jesus, your Lent can lead you into an even greater trust. And I could not think of a more better way to prepare and celebrate the ultimate sacrifice Easter represents.  Here’s a verse to chew on, Bubble Yum is optional:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5 16-18