Forty Days of Teshuva
Repentance, Reflection, Renewal and Revival: Drawing close to God through 40 days of Teshuva.
Experts say it takes 40 days to form a new habit and replace an old one. That theory happens to line up with what the bible teaches about breakthrough.
The number 40 in the bible is associated with testing, repentance, overcoming and new beginnings.
- Forty days after Moses went up Mount Sinai to receive the Torah (law), God transformed the people from their life of slavery to a life of covenant blessing and freedom.
- When the ancient Israelites rebelled against God, they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness before entering the promised land.
- After Yeshua was immersed and anointed by the Holy Spirit, he was tempted and tested for 40 days and nights. After 40 days, he chose his disciples and began his public ministry.
- There were 40 days between Yeshua’s resurrection and ascension into heaven when the disciples had to wait and trust God to fill them with new power to believe and share the gospel. (Acts 1:3)
Forty days of Teshuva or repentance begins in the Hebrew month of Elul and culminates at Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), one of the seven biblical Jewish feasts. The month of Elul usually falls in late August or early September. This year, the forty days begins tonight at sundown.
The Hebrew word Shuv means: to turn. Elul is a time to turn back fully to God and meditate on his kindness and forgiveness through the sacrifice of Yeshua (Jesus). It is symbolic of the time period just before the coming of the Lord at Yom Teruah (the Day of Sounding) when the shofar with sound, the dead will rise and those of us who are living for Yeshua will rise to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians). Elul is the time period when need to examine our lives to see if we are fully committed to God’s ways.
This time period is a sweet season of intimacy with the Lord, a time to set him above everything else, a time to bask in the beauty of his presence and renew our commitment to him, like a bride renews her love for her groom.
In fact, the Hebrew word Elul (אלול) is said to be an acronym for the Hebrew scripture in Song of Solomon 6:3, אני לדודי ודודי לי which means, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.”
In Jewish Ashkenazi tradition, the shofar or ram’s horn is blown every morning during the forty days of Teshuva except on the Sabbath, calling us to look within ourselves to discover what needs to be left behind and what needs to be renewed.
Forty Days of Prayer for Israel
In Psalm 122, we are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Over the next forty days, I invite you to join me in a special prayer focus for Israel, the return of the hostages and the return of the Jewish people to their Messiah.
Each week during this period, we’ll reflect on a different aspect of God’s character, how it applies to Israel and how it also applies to our own lives. Scroll down to start at the beginning.
Day 14
Psalm 130:7-8
“Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.”
Right here in your word, you say you will redeem Israel yourself. This is your promise and through Yeshua, it has been fulfilled. Pour out your spirit on your people and turn them back to you. Give them revelation so they can see your redemptive love and receive forgiveness, Abba!
Day 13
Psalm 130:3-4
“If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you, Lord, there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”
Thank you, God, for you abounding love and forgiveness through Yeshua. Because of his sacrificial death, I can stand in a robe of righteousness before you! What incredible love! I praise you with my whole being! Lord, we cry out for the hostages to be released. In your abounding love, hear our cry and bring them home!
Day 12
Isaiah 45:22-25
“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength.’”
All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.
But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the Lord and will make their boast in him.”
Your word says Israel will find deliverance. Lord, we pray for the hostages to be delivered from captivity!
Day 11
John 14:6
“I am the way, truth and life. No one comes to the father except by me.”
Yeshua, your words make it very clear that you are the way to God. Those words make it impossible to consider you just another prophet or great teacher. You were the Messiah of Israel. Like Joseph revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt after they abandoned and betrayed him, reveal yourself to your people! Let them see you as you are, the holy one of Israel glorified through the son!
Bring the hostages home!
Day 10
Acts 26:18
“Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Yeshua.
We cry out again, Abba, for the people of Gaza, for the Lebanese, for the Egyptians, for the Syrians, for all in the Middle East! Open their eyes to who you are and the blessing of following you. Deliver them from the deception of hatred and strife. In Yeshua’s name, and bring the hostages home!
Day 9
Psalm 119:160 “Your words are true. All your laws are eternal.”
Your word, Lord will never lose its power. It is the standard for absolute truth and it is the light in the darkness. We pray your words of truth over Israel and the nations. All your promises are “Yes and Amen”. We cry out for the salvation of those who don’t know your love. Draw them, Lord! Give them eyes to see. In Yeshua’s name, Amen!
Day 8
Psalm 43 says, “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle.”
Abba, people everywhere need your light and truth so desperately! Shine your light on Gaza, deliver the people there from deception. Show them the truth, lead them to your holy hill. Let them see Yeshua, the savior of the world! Let your light lead the Israeli hostages home! In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
Day 7
Psalm 65:1-5: Praise is awaiting you O, God, in Tziyon,
you who answer prayer, to you all living creatures come.
When deeds of wickedness overwhelm me,
you will atone for our crimes.
How blessed are those you choose and bring near,
so that they can remain in your courtyards!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the Holy Place of your temple.
Yeshua, you said “even the rocks will cry out” to praise you! What a privilege it is to bring you praise! You satisfy us with good things. All we have comes from you. Draw Israel near to you today and all those who need to know you. Comfort them, strengthen them and keep them safe. Bring the hostages home! In Yeshua’s name. Amen!
Day 6
Acts 26:18 “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a place among those who are sanctified by me.”
Lord, how my heart longs for my family members to know you and come to the light of Yeshua!
Draw them during this season, God. Give them eyes that are open to see you. Heal them from their past sufferings so can experience your joy and life completely! And, bring the hostages home!
In Yeshua’s name. Amen
Day 5
1 John 4:14-15 “And we have seen and testify that the father has sent his son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Yeshua is the son of God, God lives in them and they in God.”
Abba father, your love is so great for us that you sent your one and only son to this earth to live and die and show us that love. We ask that you pour out your spirit on your Jewish people so that they can see their Messiah. We know he is for his people, not against them. He is their long-lost brother and longs to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks.
We pray for your love to break through! And for your love to bring the hostages home! In Yeshua’s name. Amen
Day 4
Acts 26:18 “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a place among those who are sanctified by me.”
Lord, how my heart longs for my family members to know you and come to the light of Yeshua!
Draw them during this season, God. Give them eyes that are open to see you. Heal them from the past wounds they have experienced and help them to turn to you completely!
Turn the terrorists from evil and open their eyes to your light. Bring the hostages home!
In Yeshua’s name. Amen
Day 3
Psalm 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves, From the sovereign Lord comes escape from death.”
Lord, your word says you daily bear our burdens. Every worry and weight that we carry you gladly take off our shoulders. We give you them all and ask you to replace them with your joy that strengthens us.
We ask you to extend your hand of mercy and save the hostages. Let them escape from every trap and plot against them. Set them free! In Yeshua’s name!
Day 2:
“I love you Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worth of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.”
Lord, you are our only rock and deliverer. You delivered us out of Egypt long ago, and you are the same God today. We praise you for who you are- a stronghold and a fortress! A savior and deliverer!
We ask forgiveness for not putting you first, for giving our time and adoration to other things instead of you. Bring us back where we have strayed.
We cry out and call to you Lord, you are so worthy of our praise! Save us from our enemies and evil that is around us. Lord, rescue the hostages from their enemies, deliver them out of their hands. Pour out your spirit on them, strengthen them, give them hope, meet them and set them free! Turn your enemies back in fear and blind them so they cannot find their way, and if there are any who would turn from their evil ways, deliver them from their own captivity to evil.
In your name, Yeshua. Amen!
Day 1: God is a Savior
“I will also put a new spirit in you to change your way of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and give you a tender, human heart. I will put my Spirit inside you and change you so that you will obey my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27
This verse from Ezekiel reminds us of the fact that God is the only one who can save us. He’s the only one who can change us and give us a completely new heart. 1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Repentance starts with the house of God. Abba father, we humble ourselves before you and we praise you for giving us your son, Yeshua so we can be saved from our propensity to miss the mark. Thank you for saving us from our sins and changing our hearts to be more like you through your spirit.
We ask you to change the hearts of your people-both the Jewish people and the Gentile Church, and turn us fully back to you. We ask you to remove the heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh, a tender heart toward you. We praise you because we know this is your promise to your people Israel through the prophet, Ezekiel, thousands of years ago, and we know you are fulfilling it today in our midst.
We ask you to rescue the remaining hostages in the Gaza strip and bring them home to their families. Comfort those who are mourning and renew their strength. Rescue the innocent people of Gaza who have also been taken captive by the spirit of hatred through the teachings of Hamas and show them the way to your salvation. In Yeshua’s name. Amen!
