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
Repentance has always been a crucial element in maintaining right standing with God. He warned the Hebrews to follow his instructions, and he…
Day 39 – Praises to the Holy One!
Praises to The Holy One of Israel, You are worthy of our continual praises! Your love for us is great and everlasting. Your…
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 37 – What is True Repentance?
During Elul we have the opportunity to make a searching and fearless inventory of our lives. It is just that, an opportunity. And…
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
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
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
The 40 days prior to Yom Kippur furnish a valuable time for introspection leading to deep repentance. Understanding our Kingdom identity provides strong…
Day 32 – To Tell the Truth
Years ago, there was a TV show called “To Tell the Truth.” I know, I am showing my age now, but I loved…
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 30 – Where Are You Standing?
Paul had much to say to the believers in Corinth about the troubles they wereexperiencing. We may see ourselves pretty clearly in some…
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
I am not so sure specifically how to define “godless chatter,” but I am pretty sure we should be able to recognize it…
Day 27 – What Must We Do? Part 2
Let’s look again at the question, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” This was a question asked of Yeshua…
Day 26 – What Must We Do? Part 1
“What must we do to do the works God requires?” This was a question asked of Yeshua after he said to them, “Do…
Day 25 – What is in Our Hearts?
What is in our own hearts? And what are we tolerating in our midst? “It is actually reported [that there is] sexual immorality…
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
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
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
We have our standards of what we consider to be “polite conversation.” For example, talking openly about sex is generally frowned upon; and…
Day 20 – We Are All on a Journey
It has been said often that we are all on a journey, and we are. It has also been said, “you never know…
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
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
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!
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
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
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
“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
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?
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
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
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
Deuteronomy 4:9 – “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and…
Day 7 – Let the Potter Have His Way
Are you ready to let the Potter have his way? Repentance means literally to turn around; to face away from the things you…
Day 6 – Do You Hear the Whistle Blowing?
While spending time reading, meditating, praising, praying, and fasting during the forty days of personal change, I’ve listened closely for the guiding voice…
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
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
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 2 – Pray. Listen. Wait. Trust. Do!
A year or so ago, during my prayer time, these five action words came to my mind. I believe it is a message…
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…
