The Season of Teshuvah is sometimes called The Season of Answered Prayer. Is God more active on our behalf during this season? Are we more humble, causing him to intercede for us more? Or are we just more aware of his everyday grace? I can’t say. But I know that he answers prayer, and my prayer for this season is that of the Psalmist, “Renew a right spirit within me. . . restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.”
I always considered Psalm 51 a prayer of contrition, but lately I’ve been noticing its hopefulness.
David wrote it after he impregnated Uriah’s wife, and killed the man to cover his sin. Though David recognized the inexcusable state he was in, he also proclaimed his belief that he would again rejoice. When his sins were forgiven, he declared, he would know joy and gladness, and others would turn to the Lord for salvation.
Now in the Season of Teshuvah, the days of turning, before the High Holidays, we recognize our own inexcusable state, and turn our faces toward our Savior. We pray he will create in us clean hearts and right spirits.
This past year has been the hardest I’ve ever faced. As the song says, my heart lies panting on the floor. Now I’m ready to remember the joy of God’s salvation. As we approach Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, I’m ready for a fresh start.
Renew a right spirit within me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. I hope in my Savior.
Copyright 2010, Kathryn A. Frazier http://PreciousHolidays.wordpress.com
See also: Restoration in the Season of Teshuvah
Grieving for My Prodigal Child
Filed under: Bible, Christianity, faith, Holidays, Interfaith Relations, Judaism, Messianic Judaism, Religion, Rosh HaShanah, Season of Teshuvah Tagged: | Bible, David, joy, mourning, prayer, Psalm 51, repentance, Season of Answered Prayer, Season of Teshuvah
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