I have given up the habit of staying up late. Developing a habit of quality time for rest and sleep means that I am honoring God with my body by having good health. It’s easy to think that busyness equals success. But God wants us to rest! He made a whole day for it. I cut back on social and work commitments and set aside time during the week to spend with God. Finally, unhealthy habits play a role in our lives. In fact, about 40% of the things we do on a daily basis are out of habit. So during Lent, I dealt with my unhealthy habit by giving it up.
— Eleonor Castro
As an overseas worker, I’d say that we are indeed addicted to social media. The main factor that contributes to this is our homesickness. We have access to updates from our families and even the Philippine news through social media. During Lent, I gave up my long hours on social media. I also improved my temperance and tried my best to control my thoughts. l replaced my nightly routine with meditation and prayer to further reflect on life.
— Fedelis C. Domanico
I have given up procastination, which I think was a challenge for me. It helped me to push myself to be more disciplined and intentional with my time. I know how easy it is to put things off thinking I’ll do them later, but that habit usually leads to stress and unfinished business right away, so I set small goals and held myself accountable. It wouldn’t be about being perfect, it would be about making a real effort to change. And honestly, I think that kind of sacrifice would make a difference beyond Lent. It could help me become a more responsible and productive person overall.
— Lorna Esleigue
For me, letting go of my bad habits like spending so much time on my cell phone and playing games. Being so engrossed in my phone became a stumbling block in my prayer life. After realizing my shortcomings, I prayed for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me, and during Lent I renewed my spiritual journey with the Lord. I prayed that this would continue even though it was not Lent.
— Merna Mones
For this Lenten season, I spent more time in prayer and reflected on how I can grow closer to him not only during Lent, but every day. I gave up being fearful and doubtful and instead deepened my faith in God. I learned about and put into practice true faith, which is rooted in a relationship with God. The importance of trusting God even when circumstances challenge me. It is possible to act with courage and conviction when guided by faith.
—Daisy Peligro
When participating in Lent, giving up something is the one practice to consider during the season. As I was thinking about what to give up, I realized that it’s time for me to stop complaining. I usually complain because I thought that’s the only way to relieve my stress. So at the beginning of Lent, I stopped this wrong practice and instead of complaining, I offered it as a sacrifice and placed myself in the presence of our Lord.
— Anabelle Sibayan
