SHEVAT 2025

SHEVAT 2025

Shevat 1 is January 30, 2025 on the Gregorian calendar.  We are almost there.  Are you ready? 

In Shevat it is customary to ponder lessons from the Hebrew tribe called Asher. Asher owned lands which were rich and abundant.  They were known for the olive crops they grew. Their tribe manufactured and produced oil.  Scriptures say the oil of Asher flowed like a spring. 

There are two ways to become rich and abundant. One way is through accumulating worldly wealth. This is done by seeking after money and investments. However, another way to become rich is to invest into God’s Kingdom. Fill your heavenly account by investing your blessings in this life. Invest time, wealth, earthly possessions, energy, prayers, worship, daily actions, meditations and emotions into God’s Kingdom. The oil produced for this type of Kingdom living comes to us through God’s Holy Spirit.

Which way do you desire to become wealthy in the coming month of Shevat?

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND RIGHTEOUS VIGILANCE

At Shevat many ponder the meanings of the Hebrew letter Tzaddik. This letter is related to righteousness and righteous vigilance.  What activities can we implement into our daily lives to help bring righteousness forth during Shevat?

Is God showing you new directions regarding these subjects? What comes to mind as you ponder the scriptures and pray? Keeping a journal is a wonderful way to focus and remember. You can look back and see the patterns God developed in your growth as you allowed His Holy Spirit to flow through your life during Shevat.

TIME FOR THE NEW MOON

Are you gathering your loved ones around you and/or meeting with friends and neighbors to welcome the new month on Shevat?  This new moon happens at the sighting of the first little sliver of light which shines from the skies above.   

The ancient Hebrews marked the beginning of each sacred month by growing closer to the LORD by recognizing these appointed times on God’s created calendar. By recognizing the times and seasons God put into motion they discovered that each Hebraic month contained something important which might apply to a person’s Kingdom destiny. 

They blew trumpets when two witnesses first spotted the new moon. Many people lit fires that could be seen on the next mountaintop. They in turn would lite another fire. The fires would spread like a sign and a signal that the new month of God’s calendar had begun. There would be times of recognition among congregations to thank God for ushering new life into their days and to ask for His provision for the coming month.

So, as each group gathered under God’s name at the beginning of each month (on the new moon) their time became a time of reflection on the lessons of the last month. It was also a time to look forward and a time of aligning their hearts with what God was planning for the new month that was just beginning. 

FOCUS ON REDEMPTION AND DIVINE INSTRUCTION

Many followers of Jesus as Messiah are also remembering to recognize the beginning of Shevat.

We often reflect on the established focus for the month of unlocking redemption and divine instruction.

 Prayers are offered up for God’s direction. 

Please don’t mistake this recognition as being the same as the superstitious horoscopes of the world.  It is the total opposite.  Studies from creation concerning wisdom from God within the times and seasons He created are an on-going learning experience for many devout believers in Messiah. 

During such times it is good to focus on certain areas of life and living.  These monthly focus times help us to stay the course and to be on-track with God’s will for our lives. We can talk among ourselves about the goodness that comes from living a way of integrity, truth and justice.  Our intellectual knowledge will increase, which is good.  But the real transformation takes place when we actually carry out our thoughts and learning experiences to do these things in our daily lives. 

TRUE LEARNING INVOLVES DOING

What good is knowing without doing?

To actually DO the things found on the paths of wisdom is the hardest part of living a godly life.

Living out God’s focused subjects for this month is yet another way we can break free from the slavery of the world.  It is our monthly reminder to stay-the-course and focus on the goal. As we mature in God’s ways, He redeems us and allows us to move forward and further into our Kingdom destinies.  We prepare our minds, bodies and spirits to enter the new doors which God is opening up for us. 

QUESTIONS FOR SHEVAT

As we travel through this month, we need to ask ourselves some questions:

1.  What is Yeshua saying to me in this month?
2. What is God directing my attention toward? 
3. How can I draw closer to God during these coming days?
4. What does this month teach me about repentance?  Have I spent alone prayer time with God to accomplish forgiveness for the weaknesses He has pointed out to me?
5. What things is God encouraging me to keep doing right?  Am I progressing in maturity as I journey through the days of this month?  How is God’s Holy Spirit speaking to me about growing?
6. How are my relationships, finances, health and spiritual growth being influenced during the days of this month of Shevat? 
7. What challenges has God led me through during this month?  What have these challenges taught me about Kingdom life?
8. What are some ways that God has used to draw me closer to Him during this month of Shevat? 

REMEMBER TO OBSERVE TU’B’SHVAT

This is the month of Tu’B’ Shvat (The New Year of The Trees.)  It occurs on Shevat 15, or February 13, 2025 on the Gregorian calendar.  What have you come to know about why this day is celebrated annually on the Hebraic Calendar?

Are you aware of the fact that besides mankind, there are more references to trees in the bible than any other living thing?  This is something worth pondering.  Here is a link to a great article which takes that thought into consideration and goes even further in considering that the Torah is a type of a Tree of Life.  Keep reading under the next heading for that link.

EATING FROM THE TREE OF LIFE

We can’t actually eat of the physical Tree of Life yet, because we would live forever.  Mankind isn’t ready to live forever. God is in the process of teaching us how that is best done. There is so much to learn about Kingdom living before we can live eternally.   However, we can know Messiah as The Word (Torah) and apply these words given to us in the scriptures to help us to obtain eternal life through Yeshua. 

This link will take you much deeper into this subject:    https://ajoyfuljewishjourney.com/2024/01/25/celebrating-the-tree-of-life-at-tu-bshvat/.  I hope you love it as much as I did.

PRAYER FOR SHEVAT 2025

So, here is hoping that your month of Shevat bears much fruit.  May the Tree of Life shower blessings upon you and your household.  May God prosper your work and grow your love for Him and those who you come in contact with in daily life.  Most of all, may your year be filled with God’s Holy Spirit and The Gospel of Jesus Christ working and living inside of you and multiplying out to others.

Amen

All blessings to you for a wonderful and refreshing month of Shevat!