Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 13

Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 13

 

Elul Thirteen

September/Elul

The thirteenth day

The work has begun

Making very good progress I must say

 

This plowing and turning

Is definitely hard work

Working steady

I can’t quit, mustn’t shirk

 

Set the plow for deep

Well this is new to me

He said it’s for moisture retention

It’s something new to see

 

I’ve never worked the fields

This is where we spend our days

I’ve come to love the work

He has set my heart ablaze

The work though hard and grueling

A day with Him is worth it all

This is a labor full of love

Precious season of Teshuvah, ushering in fall

 

© laurette laster

Tonight we have a gorgeous Harvest Moon lighting up our evening sky. I didn’t realize how rare it is to have a full moon on Friday the 13th. Many believe this date is ominous and expect bad things to happen. I for one have never been superstitious. The next full moon we will see on Friday 13th is not for 30 years.

How fitting to have a harvest moon during Teshuvah. When the work of repentance is in full swing we can feel overwhelmed, especially if we are just coming out of the world. We can beat ourselves up wondering why we didn’t know we were so wrong, or how lost we were.

Isn’t it wonderful that our Father who is rich in mercy knew we would require and need support and love to do the work of repentance. Often when we are beating ourselves up is when we feel the Love of our Father closer than ever. As I have been interceding for other’s I have been prompted to cry out that God have mercy on their soul and grant them repentance.

With a fresh clean slate or a plowed field we can begin to get excited as our heart feels and experiences the peace of God, knowing we have done what has pleased The Lord. Then as He directs we continue to plant new crops in our clean heart. Teshuvah is returning to His word and falling in love all over again or perhaps for the first time.

 

God’s goodness is gently drawing us to repentance; softly and tenderly preparing us like a gentle rain prepares the ground. The Father’s goodness is softening our hearts to prepare us for the difficult work of weeding and plowing that we have possibly neglected. Having neglected our field for several seasons can be evident by the overgrowth of brush. In order for our ground to become fruitful and prosperous some hard work is required. The work of removing overgrowth and weeds will make room for new crops to be planted of for the good crops to continue to grow and multiple. Our hearts and our minds are our field to tend and cultivate. When we continuously watch over our heart and mind God can expand our territory. Our minds will become pliable to be renewed. Like the planting of new crops that bring a new harvest. Only after our heart (garden) is softened (plowed) can new seed, (the word of God) be planted in our minds, and be received and thus begin to grow. Once sown and established and rooted, we will need to watch for weeds and insects. This is a continual process as long as we live, much like the season of repentance. The seasons will continue to cycle to keep us on track.

 

In Leviticus chapter 23, The Lord describes the set times as His feasts. According to the scripture the Festivals, Feasts, Holy Convocations, or Mo’edim are His set times.

And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, (set times), even these are My feasts.

Leviticus 23:1-2 NKJV

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette