And from the day on which you bring [the omer], the sheaf of the elevation offering- the day after the Sabbath-you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week-fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the Lord. Leviticus 23:15-16, NJPS

Our prayers through the 49 days of the omer will cover both inward and outward tikkun, that is, renewal of our own walk with God, and renewal within our families, congregations, the worldwide Messianic Jewish community, and the whole House of Israel. We pray together each evening beginning on the second night of Passover, Tuesday, April 3.  Here's how to count the omer:

1. Recite the blessing,

Baruch atah Adonai Elohenu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al sefirat ha-Omer.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us by His commandments and commanded us concerning the count of the Omer.

2. Recite the count of the omer, saying:

"Today is the third day of the omer."

Week 1 April 3-9 (alternate April 7-13): T'shuvah: Return to God and His Ways.

Pray for personal t'shuvah, then for t'shuvah within our families and congregations, the Messianic Jewish community, and the wider Jewish community. 

Scripture for Day 3 (evening of Thursday, April 5th):

"Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness." (Ps. 143:10)

Commentary:

During this week's theme of Teshuvah, of Repentance, our heart's cry must be to do the will of God. Often we desire to do God's will, but fall short. We usually start off doing really well, and end up on the side of the road in a ditch. How is that? The Apostle Shaul wrote something similar in Romans, where he states, "I don't understand my own behavior - I don't do what I want to do; instead, I do the very thing I hate!" (Rom. 7:15). 

That is why we need God's Spirit, and for God to teach us His will, just as it states in today's verse from Psalm 143. We must be constantly led on God's path of righteousness for our lives. For when we submit ourselves to God, and to His commandments, we will find ourselves less and less alongside the road in a ditch.

In the Siddur, the Jewish Prayer Book, we pray daily: 

Strengthen our desire to do good deeds; teach us humility, that we may serve You. May we find grace, love and compassion in Your sight and in the sight of all who look upon us, this day and every day. Grant us a full measure of lovingkindness. Blessed are You , O LORD, who bestows lovingkindness upon His people Israel (Birchot HaShachar).

As we continue through the Counting of the Omer, and the 50 days of prayer, let us seek out God's will for our lives. Let us do His will, as if it is our will. For indeed, His Spirit is good, and may He continue to guide us in all uprightness.

Joshua Brumbach