Nikki DeLoach has big plans for the next 40 days. On February 18, 2026, the beloved Hallmark star posted an emotional message for fans in honor of Ash Wednesday, observed by many Christians as the start of Lent, the 40 days before Easter that many use as a period of reflection and fasting.
Appearing in a powerful selfie video with her screenwriting partner and dear friend, Megan McNulty, DeLoach shared that they’d just been to their “little brown church in the valley,” both with a symbolic cross, written in ash, on their foreheads. The duo shared what they’ve each decided to focus their “intention” on over the next 40 days, sweetly supporting one another in their goals.
Nikki DeLoach Says Experienced ‘Transformation’ During Lent in 2025
DeLoach, who’s always been open about her faith, said she and McNulty went to church together “to say prayers, not just for ourselves and our families and our friends and our community, but for the world.”
“Last year, I had this very clear — and it was a really hard — intention,” she continued. “I spent 40 days and nights in prayer, every morning and every night. And the transformation and breakthrough was tremendous.”
It was so transformational that the “Curious Caterer” star and her bestie decided to publicly share their intentions for Lent this year, in hopes they might “inspire” others, McNulty said. DeLoach added they hoped those listening would “feel like you’re not alone in your own intentions.”
Nikki DeLoach Plans to Envision Heaven on Earth Every Morning & Night of Lent
GettyAs DeLoach and McNulty began to share their intentions for Lent, McNulty said, “Mine’s pretty simple,” noting that the thing she’s “giving up” for Lent is trying to fix everything. She explained that she’s “giving up fixing one thing any time my head rests (on) the pillow, each night, one thing that I did not fix, I’m gonna leave it there.”
Getting emotional, DeLoach then said that “in all the hard and the suffering that’s happening, I want to focus on imagining a more beautiful and true world.”
As McNulty put her head on DeLoach’s shoulder, the actress said, “You know when Jesus and when God asked us to bring Heaven to Earth, right? What does that look like? Do we dare imagine it?”
“So, each day,” DeLoach continued, “I want to pick a person or a situation and imagine what that situation or what that person’s life looks like if Heaven is brought to Earth, and we imagine the truest, most beautiful way forward. So that’s what I’m going to be doing.”
Many fans shared gratitude for DeLoach’s video, including one who wrote, “That’s awesome it speaks to the intention of my own heart. We need to be the light bearers.”
Another commented, “Thank you so much for sharing. I pray that this lent will be a good one for you and I pray that you will find your peace. I think that’s my intent this year is to find more peace in my life and joy each day🙏🏻 each day.”
So you are going to stop trying to fix anything that is disturbing to you? To not try and help stop all the awfulness and unfairness going on in our world? Sounds like you are using your faith to escape from the trauma many of us are feeling due to chaos and cruelty of our country. I am pretty sure Jesus and God wants us all to jump up and down screaming!
Many Christians will view your faith expression as a testimony. Thank you for sharing your faith.