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Aretha Franklin’s 1967 “Respect” became a chart topper with its catchy lyrics spelling out a word in rhyming, rhythmic verse.
There are days when I want to re-appropriate these lyrics to explain REPENT to the world. What does Repentance mean to God?
R-E-P-E-N-T…Find out what it means to Me.
For the next 10 days, beginning with the commencement tomorrow of Rosh Hashanah at sunset, we will observe the “Ten Days of Awe” that lead up to the holiest day of the year on the Hebrew calendar…Yom Kippur. We will examine exactly what REPENTANCE means. Most importantly, what does it mean to God, according to His Holy Word.
Interestingly, there are 10 letters in the word REPENTANCE. Each day, for ten days, we will be sending out a new devotional written by 10 authors from all over the globe. Some are Pastors, others are just “regular people” with a passion to see a genuine spirit of repentance take root in their nations against the evil spirit of human secularism that threatens to destroy our societies.
We hope you will follow along as we humbly and reverently proceed on our knees to Yom Kippur, taking each day as a step up closer to kneeling at God’s Holy Throne. This is a powerful opportunity to commune with God Almighty. These dates were commanded by God as “statutes forever” and were never meant to be disregarded.
This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you…It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.
~Leviticus 16:29-31
To put this scripture into our modern day context, the 7th month, 10th day of the month is Tishrei 10 in the Hebrew calendar. In our Western Gregorian calendar, Yom Kippur begins this year at sunset on Friday, October 3rd through nightfall Saturday, October 4th. This year of 2014, in particular, it is an extremely High Holy day as it also falls on the Sabbath. Truly God is giving us a SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY to seek Him through prayer, fasting and repentance.
Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement…It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.
~Leviticus 23: 27 & 32
One National Day of Repentance member described this process as “Spiritual TNT.” It’s a time of “open heavens” and a pre-set date with God Almighty. Why we, as Christians, ever stopped these fantastic opportunities to commune with God Almighty, I cannot even begin to fathom. Think about it: The Most High God, Master of the Universe has decreed “You and I have an anointed rendezvous for special communion together on this exact day” and we have “stood Him up” for the last 2000 years or so. What were we thinking???
Be wise. Take advantage of this pre-ordained “date with God.” Don’t be foolish and be a “no show.” It will change the direction of your life and your nation.
Let’s rediscover the power of obeying God and following his statutes. Join us as we make the climb on our knees up God’s Holy Hill.
The Year of Shemitah is about to begin…Soon, there will soon be a whole lotta shakin’ going on.
Let’s repent and pray for a good year,
~Pastor Jeffrey Daly
jdalylaw@aol.com
National Day of Repentance
www.facebook.com/TheNationalDayOfRepentance
We welcome comments, feedback and insights from all of our participants. Please send them via email to jdalylaw@aol.com for consideration.
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