What You Need to Know as We Enter This Season of Repentance
Last year on Aug. 21, Teshuvah, the 40-day Jewish season of repentance, began with the great American eclipse. You can receive a free download of our book about this sign in the heavens, Teshuvah Eclipses.
Teshuvah is a compound word consisting of the Hebrew Tashan, meaning “return,” and hey, the last letter of the JHVH name for God. The hey in JHVH represents the Shekinah, or manifest presence of God. Thus, Teshuvah is a time to return to the presence of God. It is also understood that returning to God is accompanied by repentance.
Teshuvah occurs during the 40 days beginning the first day of the sixth month of the Jewish religious calendar and ending on the Day of Atonement, on the tenth day of the seventh month. Observant Jews have an understanding that this 40-day period, and especially the last 10 days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, represents an opportunity to repent and avoid the judgment of God. For Christians, these 40 days are an invitation to repent and enter into unity with God through the blood of Christ. However, for unbelievers, Teshuvah is a solemn warning of the judgment to come.
This duality of Teshuvah—as an invitation and a warning—is illustrated in two of the Scriptures that are associated with it. Psalm 27 speaks to the benefits of living in God’s presence and seeking His face. He will keep us in time of trouble and allow us to see His goodness while we live. In Ezekiel 33 the Lord commands us to warn the unbelievers to repent and save themselves from the judgment to come. We are also told that we must warn the righteous of their folly so they can repent, lest they suffer judgment. Thus, Teshuvah calls believers to repent and come into God’s presence and also calls on us to evangelize a lost and dying world.
This year Teshuvah begins on Aug.11, and we are again asking you to join in praying through Teshuvah.
During the first to 10th days of Teshuvah, from Aug. 11 to Aug. 21, we invite you to join with us in praying for personal repentance:
Aug, 11 – Deuteronomy 30:19-20: Choose Life.
Aug. 12 – Mathew 4:1-11 and John 14:30: The victorious 40-day Teshuvah journey of Jesus
Aug. 13– Romans 8:12-15: We are children of Godj
Aug. 14 – Deuteronomy 8:1-5: Faith
Aug. 15 – Romans 8:1, 2: No condemnation for those in Christ
Aug. 16 – Deuteronomy 6:17-26: Obedience
Aug. 17 – 1 John 1:9 Forgiveness
Aug. 18 – Deuteronomy 6:4-15: Love Godj
Aug. 19 – John 14:23 Love brings obedience and peace.
Aug.20 – Eph. 2:8-10: Make sure you have received salvation by grace to achieve your destiny.
Aug. 21- Acts 1:7-8 and Acts 2: 38:39: Receive the Holy Spirit to empower your Christian walk.
“I call heaven and earth to witnesses against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days” (Deut. 30:19-20a). {eoa}
Ron Allen is a Christian businessman, CPA and author who serves in local, national and international ministries, spreading a message of reconciliation to God, to men and between believers. He is founder of the International Star Bible Society, telling how the heavens declare the glory of God; the Emancipation Network, which helps people escape from financial bondage; and co-founder with his wife, Pat, of Corporate Prayer Resources, dedicated to helping intercessors.
