📜 The 8 Weeks of Lent

Overview

• The Great Lent (Tsome Hudade) is a 55-day fast leading to Easter (Fasika).
• It is divided into 8 weeks, each with its own theme, scriptural focus, and spiritual lesson.
• The fast is a time of repentance, prayer, fasting, and charity.

Before Lent Begins: A Spiritual Preparation Checklist

1. Repentance

• Reflect on your spiritual journey so far and seek God’s mercy.

2. Self-Examination

• Identify the one sin that is keeping you from a life of Holy Communion.
• Recognize a habit you need to change to grow closer to God.

3. Purification

• Remove distractions that pull you away from faith.
• Delete files, worldly music, or any content that hinders your spiritual growth.

INTRODUCTION

This guide was prepared by Biruktawit Tesfaye (Productive Habesha) in partnership with Nehemiah Orthodox Goods to help you fast intentionally and, grow closer to God.

Why I Created This Guide

The Ethiopian Orthodox Great Lent (Abiy Tsom) is more than just abstaining from certain foods—it is a sacred season of repentance, prayer, and spiritual renewal. This guide is designed to help you:

✅ Stay intentional by tracking meals, prayers, and energy levels.

✅ Live a life of repentance by reflecting on sins to confess and spiritual goals to achieve.

✅ Grow spiritually through scripture, Orthodox sermons, and worship.

✅ Stay disciplined with a daily checklist to build Godly habits.

As someone deeply invested in my own and other people’s spiritual growth, and as a born Christian and a priest’s wife, I feel a duty to serve God by supporting my Christian brothers and sisters. This guide is for anyone fasting this Lent who desires to be more intentional and devoted in their faith.

Rather than just offering advice, this guide provides practical tools to help you track, reflect, and grow. It was created out of free will and obedience to God, as He placed this calling on my heart during everyday tasks. I set aside my other priorities to fulfill this, believing it will serve both myself and others on this journey.

May this guide strengthen your faith.

God Bless,

Biruktawit Tesfaye (Productive Habesha)

📜 Weekly Themes, Scriptures & Reflections

Week 1: Humility & Submission to God

📖 James 4:10 – "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."

🛤️ Theme: Christ’s humility in coming down from heaven to save us.

Weekly scripture reading :

📖 Matthew 4:1-11

📖 John 3:10-24

📖 Psalms 2:11

✍️ Reflection Prompts:

• How can I practice humility in my daily life?
• In what ways have I been prideful, and how can I change?

Challenge :

• Fast with the right heart—avoid pride, gossip, and impatience.
• Start each morning and end the night with prayer before anything else.
• Limit distractions (social media, unnecessary conversations).
• Perform one act of kindness every day(Refer to 6tu Kalate wengel)

Week 5: Deepening Scripture Study

📖 Matthew 6:14 – "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

🛤️ Theme: Experiencing God’s mercy and forgiving others.

Weekly scripture reading :

📖 Scripture 24:1-36 & Psalms 45:2-3

📖 Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

✍️ Reflection Prompts:

• Do I truly believe in God’s mercy for my sins?
• Have I been merciful to others?

Challenge :

• List people you need to forgive and pray for them.
• Seek forgiveness from those you have wronged you.
• Avoid anger and replace it with patience.
• Meditate on Christ’s forgiveness on the Cross.

Week 2: Repentance & Cleansing the Heart

📖 Acts 3:19 – "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out."

🛤️ Theme: Renewing our commitment to God.

Weekly scripture reading :

📖 Matthew 6: 16-25

📖 1 Thessalonians 4: 1-13

📖 1 Peter 1 : 13

✍️ Reflection Prompts:

• What commitments do I need to renew with God?
• Have I been faithful in my prayers and fasting?

Challenge :

• Daily repentance—write down sins you struggle with and ask for forgiveness.
• Focus on self-control—avoid negative thoughts and words.
• Meditate on Psalm 51 ("Have mercy on me, O God...").
• Confess and let go of past burdens that hinder your spiritual growth.

Week 6: Serving Others & Charity

📖 Matthew 25:40 – "Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for Me."

🛤️ Theme: Preparing our hearts to welcome Christ.

Weekly scripture reading :

📖 Scripture: Matthew 25:14-31

📖 Scripture: 2 timothy 1-16 & 1 peter 5:1-12

📖 Scripture: Peter 39:8-9

✍️ Reflection Prompts:

• Is my heart ready to receive Christ?
• How can I deepen my faith in these final weeks of fasting?

Challenge :

• Give to someone in need (money, food, time, or help).
• Do one unnoticed good deed each day.
• Pray for someone struggling with their faith.
• Call or visit someone who feels lonely or forgotten.

Daily Habit Checklist ✅

(Mark off each day!)

Note : feel free to add more habits you want to develop besides the ones mentioned below(prayer, prostration & scripture reading)

Ethiopian Orthodox Sermons & Worship Songs 🎶

Follow & Connect

📌 Productive Habesha (For personal growth, faith-based guidance, and inspiration)

🔗 Instagram, YouTube, TikTok: @ProductiveHabesha

🔗 Website: www.productivehabesha.com

📌 Nehemiah Orthodox Goods (For Orthodox-inspired products, books, and spiritual items)