Hebrew New Year 5777

This year will be a year of completion of the old and stepping into complete and total restoration beginning with grace.  This has definitely been the case so far and the New Year hasn’t even begun yet.  Grace has been a constant friend over the last few months.  I have felt God's grace strengthening me and empowering me to keep going and not to give up on the promises He has given me.

The evening of October 2nd begins Rosh Hashanah 5777, the New Year on the Hebrew calendar.  We are in the Hebrew month of Elul. This month is a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  Tradition teaches that the month of Elul is a time for repentance.  This repentance builds throughout the month of Elul until Rosh Hashanah, and finally to Yom Kippur.

I found it particularly interesting that the name of the month Elul (spelled  אלול Alef-Lamed-Vav-Lamed) is said to be an acronym of “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li” which is “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine”. Also in Aramaic the word “Elul” means “search” which goes along with the theme of searching our hearts in repentance.

For those of you who know me this verse in Song of Songs 6:3, “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine…” is very near to my heart and speaks to me of my relationship with Yeshua. (I have been wearing these words around my neck since 2009 and never take it off) I believe the fact that this month is Elul speaks to the love the Father has for His people and He calls us to repentance out of that love.  We are His beloved and He is ours so He is ever calling us higher into that love.

The other day I was asking Him about a situation I have been going through for almost three months now.  I wanted His perspective on it because when I looked at it all I saw was confusion, hurt, and pain.  I have learned that if I ask Him who He is for me in situations and who I am actually becoming in the situation it helps me.  I can get through the situation faster and easier. I can begin to agree with His perspective and see myself the way He sees me.

His response to me was this. “My goal is to make you more like me in every aspect of your life.  A large part of that is love. From the beginning I have been teaching you how to love. There have been many times that you thought you were loving but then later realized it wasn’t about love at all but more about meeting your need.  If you will learn from this your capacity to love will grow exponentially. You are learning to love the way I love. This is possible because you are My daughter, with My DNA, and you are created in My image.  Anything is possible.”

With this information I was able to see clearly that the situation was not what I thought it was. It is about love and God creating in me the capacity to love the way He loves no matter the circumstance or person involved.  I am overwhelmed by His goodness toward me, always bringing me higher into Him, calling me to remember who He created me to be before the foundation of the world.  I know this month of Elul God is using trials and repentance to position me for the New Year to come and all the favor and blessings of complete restoration. He is so good!