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Lent devotional for adults: 2027 dates and a simple 40-day plan

Lent is forty days of prayer and turning back to God before Easter. A good devotional gives those days a shape: something to read, something to think about and one small thing to do.

This guide covers the Lent 2027 dates, what to look for in a devotional for adults, a simple daily routine and a few questions you can start with tonight.

Lent 2027 dates

• Ash Wednesday: 10 February 2027
• Palm Sunday: 21 March 2027
• Good Friday: 26 March 2027
• Easter Sunday: 28 March 2027

Lent is counted as forty days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, not counting the Sundays. Many people simply do forty readings, one for each weekday and Saturday, and keep Sundays as a day of rest and worship. Churches keep the season in different ways, so follow the pattern of your own church if it has one. Orthodox churches follow a different calendar, so their Lent and Easter dates in 2027 may not match these.

Why forty days?

Forty is one of the Bible's long numbers. The rain of the flood fell for forty days, Moses spent forty days on the mountain, and Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness before his public ministry began. Forty days is long enough for a habit to settle, and short enough to see the end from the start.

What to look for in a Lent devotional for adults

Many devotionals are a verse and a paragraph. That is a good start, but if you want Lent to change something, look for these:

• A Bible passage to read each day, not just a single verse
• A short teaching in plain language that explains the passage
• Questions that ask about your own life, not only about the text
• Space to write your answers
• One small, practical step for the day
• A way to look back each week and see what has changed
• A guide for a small group, if you want to go through it with others

A simple daily routine (15 to 20 minutes)

1. Be still (1 minute). Sit somewhere quiet and ask God to speak through what you read.
2. Read (5 minutes). Read the passage slowly, twice if it is short.
3. Reflect (5 to 10 minutes). Answer one or two questions in writing. Be honest. Nobody else needs to read it.
4. Choose one step (1 minute). One small thing to do today because of what you read.
5. Pray (2 minutes). Talk to God about what came up, in your own words.

Pick a fixed time. Early morning before the house wakes up works for many people. For others it is the lunch break, or the last thing before bed. If you miss a day, do not try to catch up on three at once. Just read today's.

A prayer to begin

Many people start Lent with these words from the Psalms:

“Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23-24, WEB)

It is a brave prayer. It asks God to show us what we would rather not look at, and trusts him to lead us somewhere better.

Questions to start with

If you want to begin before you have a devotional, use one of these each day in the first week, with a passage of your choice:

• What in this passage surprised me, or made me uncomfortable?
• Where in my home or family do I need to show more patience?
• Is there someone I need to forgive, or ask forgiveness from?
• What am I afraid of right now, and what would trusting God look like here?
• What does this passage say about who I am in Christ?
• What is one small act of kindness I can do for someone today?
• What has God been showing me this week?

Going through Lent with a group

Reading alone is good. Talking about it with others helps it stick. A simple pattern for a small group:

• Meet once a week for six weeks, starting the Sunday after Ash Wednesday.
• Everyone reads the daily pages at home.
• At the meeting, each person shares one thing that stood out, if they want to. Nobody has to read out their journal.
• Discuss two or three questions, pray together, and finish on time.

Fasting and giving something up

Many Christians give something up for Lent, such as social media, a treat or an evening habit, and use that time or money for prayer and giving. If you do, keep it simple and realistic. Customs differ between churches, so if you are unsure what your church practices, ask your pastor or priest. A devotional works alongside these practices; it does not replace them.

Please note: this is a guide for prayerful reflection. It is not counseling or therapy, and it is not a substitute for pastoral or professional care.