Day of Atonement

This holiest of days to the Jewish people started last night at sundown and continues today – Yom Kippur. Why does this matter to us? This is the day Moses brought the Ten Commandments down the mountain the second time. The first time, the people were worshiping a golden calf. The second time, Moses intervened for them and God forgave them, renewing His relationship with them. This is a foreshadowing of Christ coming to intercede on behalf of man to save us from our sin. This holy day is marked by fasting and prayer – to renew our relationship with God, to thank Him for His forgiveness and reconciliation, and to watch for the coming Messiah.

“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.” (Exodus 34:6-8; ESV)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

  • Ask God to forgive you your sin.
  • Pray for those you know who do not yet know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. Name them by name and cry out for their souls.
  • Intercede for this nation and ask God to forgive our national sin – be specific and don’t be afraid of any emotion that rises up within you regarding it.
  • Worship and thank the Lord for His plan of salvation – personal and national.

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, forgive me for all of my sin. I cannot thank you enough for the grace of the cross that I get to come to daily, and moment by moment, so that I can live free of guilt and shame. You know my iniquitous bents. Lead me in righteous paths and remove those temptations to sin away from me. I pray the same for my family members and friends who don’t know Jesus yet. Save them, Lord! Forgive, as well, the sins of these United States. Forgive our murdering of millions of babies in the womb. Forgive our national bent toward racism. Forgive us for our participation in human trafficking, pornography, gambling, drug sales and use, and so many other matters of the heart. Save us, Jesus, and save our people, so we are ready for You when You come! Amen.

Today’s decree:

I decree that today we will bow our heads to the ground in gratefulness and worship God, even as Moses did.