Yom Kippur | Time to Repent, Reflect, and Be Refreshed
After Rosh Hashanah, you enter a time of repentance, reflection, and renewal known as Yom Kippur.
Don’t miss what the Lord is trying to reveal to you during this somber time of self-reflection at Yom Kippur:
- Set aside time to reflect on what the Lord revealed to you during Rosh Hashanah
- Don’t let people, places, or circumstances steal your joy and time with the Lord
- Pay attention to the small “hints” that the Lord reveals to you so that you draw near to Him
- Choose to walk in the Spirit’s fruit of self-discipline
The Future and the Fall Feasts
Yom Kippur was a day on which the priest came into the Holy of Holies and atoned for the sins of both himself and the people of Israel (see Leviticus 16).
Today, we rejoice in the fact that the Blood of the Lamb has atoned for our sins once and for all—therefore, out of honor and remembrance, we celebrate this High Holy Day.
We can rest in the promise that Jesus is the atonement for all who call on His name.
- “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”—1 John 2:2
- “…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”—Revelation 1:5-6
Reflection and Repentance
After you’ve received the words and revelation during Rosh Hashanah, do you soon forget the nuggets of knowledge that were so clear only days ago? When we have a visitation from the Lord, the enemy puts anything he can in our way to tempt us to forget, cause us to get caught up in distractions all around us, and steal the refreshment of our soul after repentance.
Let’s look at some ways to continue in the renewal of our mind, will, and emotions so that we can walk in our divine destiny and receive the promised promotion for the year ahead…
1. Review the Rosh Hashanah Message
How did God move you as you heard from Him or learned about Rosh Hashanah? During Rosh Hashanah, God speaks to you in ways that light the fire of the Holy Spirit within you to step into the next level of faith. You know He has something great in store for you this coming year.
But sometimes, the message comes so fast that catching it all is difficult. We want to encourage you to go back and listen to the last Rosh Hashanah message and…
- Take note of prophetic words that catch your attention
- Meditate and pray over them—ask God to reveal if this is an answer to His call He had for you in previous years
- Listen to the message as often as it takes to gather every nugget of knowledge He wants to reveal to you
- Understand this deep dive devotional will take time—pray the Lord gives you eyes and ears only for Him during your study time
2. Cut off Distractions
Satan will attempt to steal what has been given to you. Remember, he will orchestrate chaos by placing people and circumstances in your daily life this week to prevent the intentional time you have planned to sit down in repentant prayer. He’s not after you, but after your blessing.
With a heartfelt, humble prayer of repentance, Satan knows that your soul will be reenergized and refreshed, and you will begin to follow kingdom ways.
When anger, frustration, and bitterness start to rear their ugly heads during interactions with others, or in certain circumstances… pray. Pray for strength and submit to the Lord.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
—James 4:7
3. Reach for Repentance
There are always opportunities to enter the Courts of Heaven and cancel anything from the past year or in your bloodline holding you back from claiming God’s promise of promotion for the next year.
Pay attention to those small “hints” from the Lord that He puts in your path. These are invitations for you to draw near to Him. These are opportunities to humbly come before Him and ask Him to reveal any sin in your life that you may not even be aware of.
He wants to wash them away and bury them so that there is a renewed anointing of His Spirit in your life.
Follow His lead and spend time with your loving Father, as He shows you times in the past year that were clouded or confused. Be ready to receive and obey what He has for you.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
—2 Peter 3:9
Who Are You Going to Be Next Year?
This is the question to answer as you repent and reflect. Will you take the step God is inviting you to take? Or will you continue to do things the same way you did last year? You have a choice to make from this day forward.
There has to be a time when you decide to call upon the strength of the Lord and discipline your mind, will, and emotions.
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”—1 Corinthians 9:27
Choose to say, “I won’t let the petty things in life steal my purpose, blessing, and destiny this year.” If you want a change from last year, you will have to move and do something different. The Lord has a promotion available for you. When you seek Him in all things, praise His name, and proclaim His promises, He renews your spirit.
- “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”—Psalm 103:2-5
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
—Matthew 7:7-8