As Lent 2026 begins, we’re exploring this year’s Church of England theme, Draw Near: Life-Giving Habits, and thinking about how it can inspire our daily lives.

Lent isn’t just about giving things up (like chocolate etc.). It is about stopping, taking a breath, and choosing habits that help us grow closer to God.

Draw Near is all about showing us how the little habits we choose each day can help us get closer to God. And here’s the cool part… as we take steps toward Him, God moves closer to us too. It’s like a friendship that grows stronger every time we make the effort. We become more like Jesus, day by day. 

This is a chance to slow down, try something new, and see how small changes can make a surprisingly big difference.

And even if you follow a different faith or none at all, these ideas can still help us grow in kindness, courage, and how we treat ourselves and others.

Today we think about Habits & Purpose: who we are becoming & habit-forming choices.

Take a moment to think about your daily routine.

The things you do without even thinking, the way you speak to people, how you spend your time, what you give your attention to.

These are your habits. And your habits are shaping who you are becoming. Not just today… but over time.

Lent invites us to pause and ask:

• What habits are helping me grow?
• What habits are holding me back?
• Who am I becoming through the choices I make every day?

In Luke 16:10, Jesus says:

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.

The small things matter. The quiet choices. The unnoticed moments. The habits no one else sees.

These are the places where purpose begins.

Challenge for today: Choose one small habit you want to build.

It could be:

• Taking time to notice someone who feels left out
• Speaking kindly, even when it’s difficult
• Pausing before reacting
• Giving time instead of rushing past

Keep it simple. Keep it real. Small habits, repeated, shape a life of purpose.

Let’s pray

God of purpose, thank you that our lives are shaped not just by big moments, but by small, daily choices.

Help us to build habits that bring kindness, courage, and hope. Teach us to choose well in what we say, in how we act, and in who we are becoming.

May our habits draw us closer to you and help us live with purpose each day.

Amen.

* Image by freepik