Today is the first day of a new year – at least on the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah a.k.a. Feast of Trumpets kicks off the Days of Awe which continues for the next ten days and culminates in Yom Kippur beginning at sunset on September 29th.
Hebrew tradition teaches that during the days of Awe, God searches the earth and takes inventory of the heart and actions of people. During this time, people are encouraged to examine their lives, consider ways to love their fellow man more and generally make the world a better place to live. Repentance and reconciliation are emphasized during this time.
The New Year that Jesus celebrated is a great time to reflect on your walk with God and your fellow man. Prayerfully search for ways to make your life more of a blessing to everyone you come in contact with.
Some of the popular greetings for this season are, “Shanah Tovah” (Good year), “A good and blessed year,” “May you be the head and not the tail,” “May your year be sweet”, and “May your name be inscribed.” (In the Book of Life).
According to Chuck Pierce, 5777 was the year of the sword, but 5778 is the year of the door and the year of the new song. Sounds good to me! I don’t know about you but I am ready for new adventures in God and am excited to lay down some new musical tracks that lift the name of Jesus.
Will Jesus show up Saturday as some are saying? It would be awesome, but as the angel said after Jesus’ ascension, (If I might paraphrase) we aren’t supposed to be looking where He went, we are supposed to be winning the people He is coming back for.
May God’s richest blessings be yours in 5778, and may these be your most productive year for the Kingdom yet!
Shanah Tovah!