Elul Has Begun - What Are Your Goals to Be a Changed Person In the Next Year?
What a blessing we are given to have an entire month, Elul, to solidify our spiritual goals and begin new behaviors and habits. On Rosh HaShana, we stand before the King.
First, we want to measure ourselves. There is a way to do this. Just ask yourself how many days last year that you woke up happy and bounced out of bed with energy to do the work HaShem had for you that day.
Now ask yourself what you are willing to do to have almost ALL days full of joy and peace and energy.
The answer lies in one more question: What am I willing to do to be Closer to the Lord; for the joy of the LORD is our strength?
Here is the best way to begin to make the changes necessary to be closer to the Lord:
Write down what your targets for spiritual success are.
Some suggestions to get us thinking:
- More prayer
- More Giving
- Visit the people you know who are ill
- Accept the Love the Lord has for me
- Know my purpose
- Fulfill my purpose
- Stop Arguing with my family members
- Speak with more love in my voice
- Smile more
- Have more joy
- Trust the Holy Spirit to change what I cannot change and pray instead of fighting
- Learn more Jewish liturgy
You get the idea — in humility we need to admit our faults and set our minds and hearts to fix the issues.
In Elul, the King is in the field. He is all powerful, and He knows how to help those who trust and obey. He sees our efforts. He strengthens us.
Write down what you truly believe about the Lord.
This will be our assignment for Elul 1.
And we pray, Lord:
As we blow the shofar every day during this month, may our complacency be shattered and make us conscious of the sin in our lives. May the sound of the shofar enter our hearts, for blessed is the people that hearkens to its call.
Turn us to You, Adonai, and we will return. Renew our days as of old.
