Today marks the beginning of Hebrew year 5787, falling on Shabbat—Rosh Hashanah. There is something deeply significant about entering a new year on the Sabbath. We are reminded that we are not called to enter this season through striving, but through rest, surrender, holiness and trust in God—it is a time to reflect with thankfulness, remember and repent.

I believe now more than ever the Lord is calling His people to prepare their hearts and return to wholehearted devotion to Him.

For the past few years, this has been the central theme of my time with the Lord: purification unto holiness. And as we enter this appointed time of Rosh Hashanah, I am reminded that the sounding of the trumpet points us toward a day that is still to come—the return of our King, the gathering of His people, and the judgment that will reveal what is truly in the hearts of men.

“And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
Matthew 24:31

Over the past six years, the intensity of the fire has exceedingly increased as His people have been led through a process of purification—battle after battle, fire after fire, and trial after trial.

But the fire has not come to destroy us. It has come to refine us. What the fire touches, it purifies. And what He purifies, He prepares for a holy purpose.

We see this in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were thrown into the fire, yet they were not consumed. In the midst of the flames, they encountered the Fourth Man.

They refused to compromise their devotion to God. They would not bow down or worship what was contrary to Him—and because they remained faithful, God met them in the fire.

There is a testing that reveals what is truly within us. The fire will reveal who has remained faithful to Him and who has not; who has stood firm in devotion to Him and who has compromised.

This is why I believe the Lord is calling His people to awaken from spiritual complacency and return to wholehearted devotion. He is calling His called-out ones to prepare themselves and make themselves ready—not through fear, but through love, reverence, repentance and holy expectation.

Scripture tells us that Christ is coming for a Bride who has made herself ready!

“And to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:27

This is why the Lord has continually been speaking to me about holiness, humility, purification and repentance. It is a call to look at condition of our hearts.

What are we willing to say no to so that we can say yes to Him?

What are we willing to let go of so that we can make more room for Him in our lives and hearts?

I believe now, more than ever, is the time to examine our hearts, repent, and allow the Lord to burn away everything that does not look like Him.

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

The call is not simply to know about Him, but to become like Him—to be made whole, to lack nothing, to walk in humility and holiness, and to become increasingly conformed to His image.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7

So let us not become distracted or entangled by the things of this world. Let us not become comfortable when He is calling us to surrender everything that keeps us from Him.

The question is not simply, “When is He coming?” The question is, “Will He find me ready?”

May we be a people who allow the fire to purify us rather than make us bitter.

May this Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets, awaken us to the seriousness of the hour and turn our hearts toward the One who is coming.

May we be found faithful, holy and ready—our lives bearing the likeness of the One we are waiting for, with our lamps burning when the trumpet sounds!