3 Keys to a Spiritual Reset at Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” in Hebrew, and as such, it is a time of year when Jewish people examine their lives and seek God’s forgiveness and blessing for the coming year. For Messianic Jewish Believers, it is a time for reflecting on one’s life, repenting of sinful actions and attitudes, and restoring any broken fellowship with God. 

REFLECT

With the passing of one Jewish calendar year to the next, Rosh Hashanah calls us to check in with God for an examination of our lives with deeper introspection and reflection.

In Psalm 139, King David asked God to search his heart to see if there was any “offensive way” in him (Psalm 139:23–24). Of course, God knew David’s faults and sins already. He didn’t need to overturn rocks and look behind hedges to find them. The searching process David requested was for himself. He asked God to examine his life and show him his sins. At the end of verse 24, David asks, “and lead me in the way everlasting.” David wanted to know the wrong ways he was taking because he wanted to go God’s way instead.  

Let this season of Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe be a time of opening your life before God and asking Him to reveal what He wants to mature in you. Set aside time to seek Him, read His Word and quietly listen to what He says.

RESPOND

When God shines the light on the weak and sinful areas of our lives, it’s up to us to respond. Repentance is what He asks of us. The Jewish tradition of repentance is called teshuvah (teh-SHOO-vah), which means “returning.” Teshuvah includes confession, regret and a commitment to not repeat the sin. 

As David did after his sin with Bathsheba, we can ask God to create in us a clean heart (Psalm 53:12). Through Yeshua (Jesus), we know that God has already given us a new spirit – His Spirit – so that we are equipped to live the life He calls us to (2 Peter 1:3). Repentance chooses to turn from sin and return our hearts to God’s ways.

In the New Covenant, the Greek concept of repentance carries the additional meaning of changing one’s mind. Temptation stirs us to believe that our way is better than God’s, at least for the moment. Repentance is changing our mind to return to the understanding that, no matter what apparently-pleasing package sin comes in, God’s ways are the best, and they alone give us freedom and life.

During this season of repentance, ask God for the willingness to turn from your sin and faith to change your thinking about obedience to Him. Agree with Him about the sinfulness of the things He has brought to your attention. Let a godly sorrow flow over you for the various times you have chosen sin over God. Determine to live by the Spirit that He has placed inside of you instead of following the old ways (Romans 6:6).