Yom Kippur Self Examination: 10 Days of Awe Series
“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thoughts from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all . . . Search me, O God, and know my heart ; Try me and know my anxious thoughts ; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way..” ~ Psalm 139:1-4,23-24
“Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Proverbs 20:9 “Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined ! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips ; For my eyes have seen the King, YHVH of hosts.” ~ Isaiah 6:5
“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness ; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean ; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation ; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit ; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. By Your favor do good to Zion ; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering ; Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.” ~ Psalm 51
“Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” ~ Ezekiel 18:30-32
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” ~ Jeremiah 17:9-10
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” ~ Hebrews 4:12
“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” ~ 1 John 3:4
Each day, for the 10 days (Days of Awe) between Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), let the Word and the Holy Spirit search your heart, sincerely confessing, repenting, desiring to turn from that which is revealed when convicted of sin, iniquity and transgression of the Covenant.
The questions for self examination are not exhaustive and may lead to other questions revealing the motives of our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Even if you think a question does not “apply”, seek YHVH’s revelation about how you may have transgressed or lack in the matter or may be “blinded” to them. Search out the depths of your heart, pray for the desire to see the Truth of what you have done or may not have done according to the righteousness of His Word.
Note what conviction is revealed to you in each matter either in this booklet or a private journal. Confess and repent from all that the Holy Spirit convicts, seeking His strength to not try to justify the conviction away and where you struggle in each.
You can use the prayers and Psalms at the end of the list, as a framework for calling out to YHVH in sincere brokenness of spirit where you have failed Him humbly asking His forgiveness.
Next obey the Torah as to any restitution, contrition, forgiveness that needs to be done. To complete the process of confession, repentance, restitution, we must accept what YHVH has so lovingly and graciously given us – forgiveness through His Son’s blood and restoration – “as far as the east is from the west, so far has YHVH removed our transgressions from us” Psalm 103:12
Day 1
And Elohim spoke all these Words, saying, “I am יהוה your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. “You have no other mighty ones against My face. ~ Exodus 20:1-3
1. Have I acknowledged faith in YHVH, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Echad YHVH? Have I proven that faith with obedience to His Word, following His Voice?
2. Have I loved YHVH with all my heart, mind, soul and strength, keeping the covenant?
3. Have I constantly had the thought of YHVH in my mind and the fear of YHVH in my heart?
4. Have I failed to trust in YHVH and His mercy? Have I despaired of YHVH’s mercy or help?
5. Has my faith in YHVH been shaken by skepticism or doubt?
6. Have I complained against YHVH in times of adversity, troubles, people, work and suffering?
7. Have I been thankful for YHVH’s blessings?
8. Have I asked YHVH to strengthen my faith? Do I see worry and fretting as sin against trusting YHVH?
9. What do I think about upon first awakening and before I sleep?
10. Have I prayed to YHVH every day, morning and evening?
11. Have I prayed with zeal?
12. Have I read atheistic or heretical books out of sinful curiosity?
13. Have I attended the meetings of heretics and schismatics? Have I sought to learn their ways and to do them unto YHVH?
14. Have I willingly contributed a portion of my resources?
15. Have I neglected my duties to YHVH through fear of ridicule or persecution?
16. Have I given way to superstition?
17. Have I consulted astrologers, fortune-tellers or spiritualists?
18. Have I put myself, spouse, family, children, other people, job, hobbies, gaining knowledge, position, power, wealth, ease, popularity, acceptance of others, entertainment, my prejudices, my “rights” or privileges, addictions, sensual desire, etc. before YHVH, in my time, worth, or importance?
19. Have I forgotten or neglected the most important thing in life, that is, preparing for eternity?
20. How will I answer to YHVH if I have given myself up to vanity, sloth, pleasure and carelessness?
21. Is YHVH that which I love, trust and fear the most in my life?
22. Do I look to YHVH for all love, good and joy? Or, is everything measured for me by what pleases me?
23. Am I self-centered and selfish?
24. Do I love the things YHVH gives me more than I love Him? Do I cling to what YHVH takes away even though He gives me Himself?
Join us this week as we go day-by-day on this self examination series!
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Thank you for posting this. I will be diligent in reading, praying, confessing throughout Yom Kippur. Blessings.