One of the high points of the davening throughout the Yomim Noraim is when we reach the words “teshuvah, tefillah u’tzedakah maavirin es ro’a hagezeiroh – repentance, prayer and charity remove the evil of the decree!” We know that a person who is devout in conducting himself properly in these three areas will be judged for a good year. If we would recognize that the entire year ahead is riding upon the merit of these three deeds, we certainly would intensify our efforts.

The commentaries ask the following question: Why do we start with prayer, then repentance, and finally tzedakah?