Scripture: “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy hill!” – Joel 2:1 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” – Matthew 3:2
The 40 Days of Teshuvah, beginning with the month of Elul and culminating on Yom Kippur, mark a sacred time of reflection, repentance, and return. In Jewish tradition, this is a time when the gates of heaven are open, and God draws near to those who seek Him. The Hebrew word “Teshuvah” means “return”—not just repentance for wrongdoing, but a return to the heart of God, to our true selves, and to the covenant relationship we were created for.
Each morning during Elul, the shofar is sounded. Its piercing cry is meant to awaken the slumbering soul, to jolt us out of spiritual complacency. Maimonides wrote that the shofar calls out: “Awake, you sleepers from your sleep, and you slumberers from your slumber! Examine your deeds, return in repentance, and remember your Creator!”
Messianic believers find deeper resonance in this call. The voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord,” echoes through the ages. Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) came preaching Teshuvah, calling people to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Messiah. Yeshua Himself began His ministry with the word “Repent” (Matthew 4:17), inviting His people to return not just outwardly, but inwardly—to experience transformation and reconciliation with God through Him.
In Jewish thought, Teshuvah is more than just confession or regret. It involves recognizing where we’ve strayed, feeling true sorrow over our missteps, and resolving not to repeat them. In the Messianic context, this process is empowered by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), who convicts us of sin, leads us into truth, and enables lasting change.
As we begin this 40-day journey, consider the state of your heart. Where have you drifted? What parts of your life need realignment with God’s purposes? Yeshua told a parable of the prodigal son—a story of radical Teshuvah. The son not only regretted his mistakes, he turned back toward his father, who ran to embrace him. That is the heart of our heavenly Father.
In this season, God calls us to return—and He promises to meet us with mercy and grace. Elul is said to be a time when “the King is in the field”—meaning He is close, accessible, approachable. Through Yeshua, we can draw near with boldness, knowing our repentance is met with love.
Reflection: – In what areas of life have you grown spiritually complacent? – What does it mean for you personally to “return” to God?Prayer: Avinu Malkeinu, our Father and our King, awaken my heart in these days of Teshuvah. Let the sound of the shofar stir my soul to return to You. I thank You for Yeshua, who makes Teshuvah not only possible but powerful. May these days be a time of renewal and deep encounter with You. Amen.
