Preparation for the Fall Feast - Richard Maisenbacher

Preparation for the Falll Feast - Richard Maisenbacher

Elul is the Hebrew month before the Fall Feast, which begins Thursday, August 13th, and concludes September 11th-13th, 2026, with Rosh Hashanah. It is the last month before the beginning of the New Year. Elul is an acronym for “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine,” found in verse 6:3 from The Song of Songs. It is a time of drawing close to God and increasing our intimacy with Him.

You may be experiencing visitations, particularly during these few weeks as we approach the Ten Days of Awe, from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. This year seems more weighty, sobering, and challenging! Many situations are hanging in the balance, both globally, nationally, and locally. There also seems to be an increase in angelic activity. God is surely visiting His people.

During this month, you may feel an energy shift. This is a time of serious introspection, as we surrender to the work of Holy Spirit, causing us to look more like our Father. The shofar is blown each morning except on Shabbat, to awaken our soul and spirit as we prepare for this season of repentance.

Psalm 27 is read daily, giving support as we continue our transformation process. Elul helps guide us to be honest with ourselves without guilt, shame, or harsh judgment. It helps us reflect and be truthful regarding our thoughts and behavior.

We look forward to the New Year as we flow in the gifts of the Spirit, enjoying the Tree of Life. In this time of contemplation and reflection, I suggest you take time to study, read scriptures, seek forgiveness for those times when you have missed the mark, and most of all enjoy His presence.

During this month, God will make some decisions on what He will present to you in this upcoming New Year. If there was ever a time to be intimate with God in this covenant relationship that we have accepted, now seems to be the time- the month of Elul!

In His Covenant Love,

Richard Maisenbacher
Covenant Outreach Ministries, Inc.
Contact: www.info@thecovenantcenter.com

The Feast of Tabernacles - Oct. 16-23 - Richard Maisenbacher

The Feast of Tabernacles – October 16-23

Exodus 23:14 says, “Three times a year you shall make a festival to Me.” Those three times are 1) Passover 2) Pentecost (Shavuot) 3) Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot or the Feast of Booths). The harvest was over, they no longer needed to toil in the fields. They could now rest and rejoice at the fruit of their labors!

Sukkot is the Hebrew word that also means booths. They are temporary shelters for the wandering in the wilderness. They are looking back as God is reminding them of their wanderings and unbelief and how He met their every need.

Our English translation of Sukkot is Feast of Tabernacles suggesting the connection to the Tabernacle. A sukkah is just a tent. It is not like a Tabernacle. The sukkah is designed to be temporary while the Tabernacle represented the permanent place of God’s presence. God’s image is tied to His visible presence among His people.  So, in the tent when David needed to run and hide, he knew where to go. He went to God’s tent where he felt God’s presence. The temporary sukkah tent was the shelter representing the tabernacle that God provided for His people in the wilderness.  

Jesus it the ultimate tabernacle in our hearts! He doesn’t just give us life, He is our life, love and peace. The Feast of Tabernacles is about coming into the presence of God’s shelter where we can find His covering and care. Every year God’s people are required to remember His provision and protection; not just in the wilderness, but as a reminder of His continuing grace each year of our lives.

To see the faithfulness of God in the present is to experience a celebration that connects us with the same God who cared for all the freed slaves. I think He knows how we need reminders. He knows the chaos of the world and how we can be distracted from His grace and goodness.

You might not have gone into a booth or tent, but you may have memories of a tent when you went camping or fishing or if you were in the military and went camping during bivouac. Part of the purpose of this Feast is to remember that He is the Lord who brought us out of a house of bondage! Part of this festival is its’ emotional tone. This is a time of rejoicing in God’s goodness during the years of wandering. It is a time of undoing bitterness and complaining to focus on His provision and grace.

Even though the world seems to be in chaos right now it is a time of thanksgiving; when we as His body honor God’s fulfillment of His promises and we look forward to His redemptive process. Sukkot is a festival, which comes from the Hebrew word hagag (to feast). It involves dancing, celebrating, eating, leaping, feeling giddy, and making a pilgrimage.
Even though we presently are walking through challenging, even to some devastating circumstances, He wants us to choose to look to Him and find joy in His presence and celebrate! God bless and keep you!

 In His Covenant Love,

Richard Maisenbacher
www.thecovenantcenter.com
www.info@thecovenantcenter.com

The Fall Feasts and Prayer

September is proving to be a very interesting month with various prophecies and predictions as to what the Lord may be unfolding during this season.

We do know according to Leviticus 23 that there are holy convocations during certain appointed times. God intended for the events on earth to reflect the heavenly realities.

The Fall Feasts include Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe, emphasizing repentance. Yom Kippur's focus includes redemption and making peace with God. While Sukkot, (Feast of Tabernacles) is a time of rejoicing for the harvest and celebrating the goodness of God. So to prepare our hearts, affirm and embrace the importance of this season, I will be facilitating one hour of prayer at The Covenant Center, every night at 6pm, 7 evenings a week, from September 1st through October 5th.

I look forward to spending time in His presence and hearing from heaven. Please feel free to join me during these times. Shalom!