40 Days – For What Purpose?

The month of Elul, which leads up to the Fall Feasts (aka the High Holy Days), has traditionally been for the Jewish side of YHVH’s family a time for cleaning our slate, for self-assessment, to look at our own behaviors over the past year and to repent and seek forgiveness as needed for any places where we have “missed the mark.”

The idea is that when we reach Yom Teruah (the Feast of Shofars/Trumpets), after the thirty days of Elul and self-assessment, we will be primed for the ten days then leading up to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Thus, making 40 days of self-examination, repentance, and turning our lives toward loving YHVH and loving each other.

The goal of repentance has always been a lasting manifestation of personal change. However, for many, “repentance” suggests only the emotions and actions associated with remorse, regret, and sorrow; not necessarily anything about actually changing one’s direction and patterns of living.

Following on the heels of the last two years, we find ourselves in yet another historic year of global uncertainties. To apply the processes of self-assessment, prayer, repentance, and personal change is essential. So, its purpose, these 40 Days, is to push us past our emotions to the depths of our hearts to affect a true change which then radiates back to our surface to affect, not just our intimate world and relationship with YHVH, but also continue to radiate out to the greater world we live in.

So it is again this year, that we offer this daily devotional guide of 40 Days of Personal Change.

May you be richly blessed as you pursue your relationship with YHVH.

Day 40 – Repentance is Crucial

Day 40 – Repentance is Crucial

Repentance has always been a crucial element in maintaining right standing with God. He warned the Hebrews to follow his instructions, and he…

Day 38 – Inevitable Change

Day 38 – Inevitable Change

While change is inevitable, our responses to those changes are not universal, congruent, or even similar. Everyone responds differently depending upon their personalities,…

Day 36 – Stop Trying So Hard

Day 36 – Stop Trying So Hard

Misplaced trust. Disappointment, disillusionment. Faith, not works. We can find ourselves feeling devastated, deeply disappointed and disillusioned, when we have worked very hard,…

Day 35 – Carnality

Day 35 – Carnality

Carnality. A profound result of an unrepentant heart. The wish to look and act like all the “Babylonian Meat” around us. That is…

Day 34 – Fearing God

Day 34 – Fearing God

Genesis 42:18, “… Do this and live, for I fear God.” The word fear, (yare) can mean to be terrified or to treat…

Day 33 – Seeking Our True Identity

Day 33 – Seeking Our True Identity

The 40 days prior to Yom Kippur furnish a valuable time for introspection leading to deep repentance. Understanding our Kingdom identity provides strong…

Day 31 – Precious Sacrifice

Day 31 – Precious Sacrifice

We’ve all heard the saying “good, better, best,” in relation to how we live our lives for God, what choices we make, and…

Day 29 – Unfouling the Well

Day 29 – Unfouling the Well

Leviticus 19:1-20:27, 24:22; Amos 9:7-15; Exodus 19:5-6; Matthew 12:33-37; John 4:7-14; Acts 15:1-32; Titus 2:11-14; James 3:1-18; 1 Peter 1:13-17 My difficult year…

Day 28 – Godless Chatter

Day 28 – Godless Chatter

I am not so sure specifically how to define “godless chatter,” but I am pretty sure we should be able to recognize it…

Day 24 – Here Is How

Day 24 – Here Is How

(March 14, 2017) In my quiet time this morning I was writing and noticed the Scripture verse on the cover of my journal,…

Day 23 – Weightier Matters

Day 23 – Weightier Matters

Some years ago, a good friend of mine became excited over the health benefits of hydrogen peroxide. He claimed only a couple of…

Day 22 – Psalm 73

Day 22 – Psalm 73

Psalm 73 is identified as a psalm of Asaph. The descendants of Asaph were Levites and specifically temple musicians. The writer of the…

Day 21 – Polite Conversation

Day 21 – Polite Conversation

We have our standards of what we consider to be “polite conversation.” For example, talking openly about sex is generally frowned upon; and…

Day 19 – Taqa!

Day 19 – Taqa!

Psalms 47:1 says, “Oh clap your hands, all you peoples! SHOUT to Elohim with a voice of singing! The word translated, “Clap” is…

Day 18 – Love

Day 18 – Love

1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Powerful qualifications.  Doesn’t leave any room for confusion.  Wide-eyed…

Day 17 – Sowing & Reaping

Day 17 – Sowing & Reaping

Each year as spring approaches, I get excited to start working in my garden.  Along with planting flowers, I pull the unwanted weeds,…

Day 16 – Bless the Lord!

Day 16 – Bless the Lord!

Psalm 103 begins and ends with “Bless the Lord, oh my soul” and in verse one it continues “and all that is within…

Day 15 – Simeon Waited

Day 15 – Simeon Waited

In Luke 2:25-35 is the story of a “just and pious man” named Simeon who came to the Temple in Jerusalem when Yeshua’s…

Day 14 – A Look Inside

Day 14 – A Look Inside

Take a look inside. Listen to your own thoughts. How often have youevaluated someone and come to the conclusion that you are better?…

Day 13 – A Savory Life

Day 13 – A Savory Life

“I want what I want,” I whine. The Lord answers, “the being of the lazy one craves, but has not; while the being…

Day 12 – Seeking Our True Identity

Day 12 – Seeking Our True Identity

The 40 days prior to Yom Kippur furnish a valuable time for introspection leading to deep repentance. Understanding our Kingdom identity provides strong…

Day 11 – Where Do I Dwell?

Day 11 – Where Do I Dwell?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where I live and where I want to live and how do I make decisions about…

Day 10 – Repentance

Day 10 – Repentance

I’m reminded of sinful cities like Sodom, Nineveh and Babylon. They had their opportunities to repent and change the judgement that would befall…

Day 9 – Give Me Your Eyes

Day 9 – Give Me Your Eyes

My husband and I were blessed to have the opportunity to paint the inside of a vacant house. The owners requested ceilings, walls…

Day 8 – Lest You Forget

Day 8 – Lest You Forget

Deuteronomy 4:9 –   “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and…

Day 5 – How Much More?

Day 5 – How Much More?

…how much more will the Father give good things to those who ask Him! ~ Matthew 7:11b Read this full passage for context: …

Day 4 – Turn Around

Day 4 – Turn Around

As I was contemplating Elul and the 40 days of change, I was reminded of a story that was told me three decades…

Day 3 – Precision Surgery

Day 3 – Precision Surgery

In Psalms 51:10 we read, “Create in me a clean heart O Elohim…” The word create here is the same as used in…

Day 1 – Change Reaction

Day 1 – Change Reaction

Someone said, “The only constant is change.” How true this experience happens to be. The positive aspect of this experience creates a need…