This week marks the beginning of the final month of Elul on the Jewish calendar. It is the month preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the most solemn day of the year when the Jews stand before the Lord God in fasting and prayer to ask for forgiveness. It is the closing of the past year and a look ahead to the coming year. Throughout this month, many people will do soul-searching and asking for pardon from their family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances that they may have wronged or offended in some way in the past year so that they may stand before God on Yom Kippur with a clean conscience. Oh, that we all could approach God with clean hands and pure hearts!
Several years ago for our anniversary, I wrote a sonnet to my husband about the paths we walk in life. I observed in my poem that it is good to pause and look back at the way you have already traversed and reflect on the good times and the bad. But then you need to turn and look forward and move ahead by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah had a similar message from the Lord for us all in Isaiah 51:1,
Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.
We should all take a moment to consider the path the Lord has brought us along to get us where we are today and reflect on both the good and the bad things He has helped us through.
From what rock have we been hewn? That rock is the Lord! He is the Rock that is higher than I! He is our solid foundation, our firm place to stand! He is our source of strength and stability in all the storms of life that He has brought us through.
And what is the hole from which we have been dug? This was the deep, mirey pit of sin that He has reached into by His own arm to rescue us and pull us up to a new height, a new life that we didn’t know was even possible. His own arm wounded that serpent who had coiled around us like a snare (see Isaiah 51:9).
Reflect on where He has brought you from for a moment, remember your first love for the Lord when He saved you, but then turn and look at the road that yet lies ahead. We may not be able to see everything that is yet to come, but we can move forward with confidence that He will bring us to our eternal home with Him some day. Isaiah 51:11 puts it this way,
So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
I’d love for each of you to do some soul-searching this week. Consider what needs to be worked on in your heart and walk with the Lord. We all have room for improvement. Share a testimony of the Lord’s goodness in your life. Reflect on the pit where He has dug you out of and then tell someone about how He has been a rock for you to lift you out of that hole and give you a firm place to stand. Then, take a new look ahead at the road He is leading you on right now. Move ahead with victory in your step because you know where your final destination is–with Him forever!
Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:4-5)
–dmrf