If you grew up in the Church like me, you’re familiar with the Holy Days. We’ve deleavened our houses as far back as we can remember, we know what each of the days represents, and we fast for 24 hours on the day of Atonement. Depending on your age, you’ve observed the Holy Days over 20 times. If we’re not careful, it can begin to feel like a spiritual checklist—like we’re just going through the motions. This is not what God intended! Rather than a set of days to run through, God’s festivals are designed to deepen our understanding of His incredible plan for humanity. They demand our attention and reverence. This article aims to give you achievable physical and spiritual goals to work toward as we prepare to observe the fall Holy Days.

Physical Preparation: Excused Absences

Our preparations for God’s festivals should start well before we get to them in our jobs and in our classes. Keeping God’s festivals is nonnegotiable, so it is important to give plenty of notice to your managers and professors about your upcoming absences. Waiting until the last minute to let your superiors know that you won’t be present isn’t only disrespectful to your physical authority figures—it is disrespectful to God. Take the time to write down the festival dates and remember to factor in sunset times and travel time for the Feast. I prefer to submit my absences at least a month in advance to ensure that I can make up my hours and complete schoolwork ahead of time when possible. Be diligent to be a good worker and prove that you are willing and able to make up for the time that you’ll be gone. Despite our best efforts, there may be times when those in authority make it difficult for us because of our beliefs. Remember who you’re really serving: “…whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). If you have to choose between your job or a good grade and observing God’s festivals, always choose God!

Physical Preparation: Register for the Feast

Going to the Feast involves more than simply booking a hotel room or condo and showing up to the site—it’s important to also register at feast.ucg.org to let the Feast coordinator know how many people are coming! It only takes a few minutes, and it will put you on the emailing list which will send pertinent information as you get closer to the Feast. Registering for the Feast also allows you to volunteer to serve in a variety of areas. I encourage you to get involved and help serve the brethren in any way you can. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). One of the best uses of your time at the Feast is to serve the brethren.

Physical Preparation: Set Aside Offerings

Another physical preparation to consider is to set aside offerings for the Holy Days. Take time to think about the blessings God has given you. Remember that it isn’t all about the amount we give, but about our attitude when giving it (Luke 21:1-4). We can never repay Him for all He’s done for us, especially because all things come from Him. What’s important is that our heart is in it. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), so set aside time to deeply consider what you want to give to Him in your offerings. It might be easiest to set aside all of your offerings at the beginning of the Holy Day season and have them ready to go in the green envelopes provided by the Church. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you’re deliberate and thoughtful about it.

Spiritual Preparation: Walk Prudently

While physical preparation is essential when approaching the Feast days, spiritual preparation cannot be left undone. An important part of spiritual preparation is to evaluate in what manner we are approaching the Feast days. In the fall Holy Day section from Leviticus 23:23–44, God makes it clear to whom these Feast days belong. “Feast of the Lord” is mentioned three times, while “to the Lord” and “before the Lord” are reiterated 10 times. The focus is continually on God, which is how we should approach the Holy Days. Ecclesiastes 5:1 says, “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God…” Take the time now to consider how you normally approach the Feast of Tabernacles. Is your focus locked on what parties you’ll go to and what activities you’ll do? Of course, God does command us to rejoice on these days (Leviticus 23:40), but we’re to do it according to His will. Do we think about ways that we can serve others? About how we can apply each of the messages we’ll hear? Have we thought about how we can use our tithe wisely? The Feast is to the Lord and before the Lord. He can tell the difference between us keeping the Feast as a vacation to ourselves and us keeping the Feast as a way to honor Him and serve His people.

Spiritual Preparation: Bible Study

Diligent Bible study should go hand-in-hand with our examination of our approach toward the Feast days. There are various topics we can study before the Feast days—most notably, the passages that talk about the festivals we’re about to observe. I keep a list of scriptures for each Holy Day in the back of my Bible. I enjoy reviewing the list and continually adding to it to glean more meaning out of the days.

Another edifying way to approach Bible study is to consider how to explain the Feast days to those who ask. Don’t take the easy way out by telling your boss that you’re going on vacation or just taking a few personal days. Take the time to study beforehand so you can concisely explain the meaning of the days to those who ask you: “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

Another interesting study is to review how God wants us to spend second tithe. God wants us to rejoice and spend the money on “whatever your heart desires” (Deuteronomy 14:26), but the examples listed are all food-related. God also commands us to rejoice with other brethren: “…you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow…” (Deuteronomy 16:14). This isn’t to say that we aren’t allowed to spend money on non-food items without other people, but consider where the majority of God’s tithe goes. Do we use God’s tithe completely on ourselves and our own pleasures, or are we including others who don’t have as much tithe and focusing on the fellowship and spiritual aspects of the Feast days? God is learning what our heart truly desires by how we spend His tithe.

Rejoice!

The Feast days belong solely to God and are set apart so we may learn more about God’s awesome plan for humanity. It’s of the greatest importance that we take diligent heed to prepare both physically and spiritually for the Feast days. If we take the time to carefully prepare before the fall Holy Days, we will truly be able to rejoice in the presence of God and our brethren! “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1)!