We just celebrated Rosh Hashanah (“Feast of Trumpets”) on Monday, September 30th, and now we are in the Ten Days of Awe. Although not mentioned in the Bible as such, the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (“Day of Atonement”) are traditionally a time of reflection and correction, where we seek to make amends for our ways. As Rosh Hashanah sets the course for the New Year, these ten days are days to change the course of our lives through Jesus.
Jesus is our future, our inheritance, and our redemption.
We don’t have to accept what has been put upon us when we accept what Jesus has done for us. We can enter into Christ and His intercession, then watch as the Holy Spirit moves all things into good. We can move out of our sufferings into His glory; out of our ashes into His beauty; simply by taking these days to quiet ourselves in His love. Here are a few simple ways we can do so.
Quiet time.
Life can be a whirlwind and often is, but when we set aside time to be quiet, we can hear the voice of the Lord. Jesus spent quiet time with His Father every day and recalibrated Himself back to His true identity in Him. We can, too, by taking the time to be alone with God in prayer and praise, inside His presence and power.
Rehearsal of His words, His ways, and His wonders.
Remembering God’s goodness and faithfulness shifts us out of our troubles and into His Glory. Taking the time to rehearse His words, His wonders, and His workings in our lives brings all of these alive again. “…Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10b, NKJV).
Thanksgiving.
A thankful heart is a merry heart! Gratitude is the attitude of humility and faith. When we choose gratitude, it affects our attitude and we see differently no matter where we are. We shift from the bad to the good, from the awful to the awesome, and soon Jesus is everything again!
Praise.
Praise is the expression of the heart with our mouths wide open! It’s not silence. It’s a song. It’s the melody of our gratitude, the declaration of our testimony, and our hearts returning to Jesus. Praise is expressed with our hearts and our mouths; we can raise our hands up, shout, or dance, and then after all that, be in awe and worship.
Ten Days of Awe: Let’s make it all about Jesus!
