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Lord, Send the Rain!
by Kristenea M. LaVelle (Kristenea's bio)

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"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:3

"For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring."
Isaiah 44:3

The blue skies of summer usher in a renewed excitement for the outdoors. The neighborhood is bubbling with the laughter of children as they frolic in wading pools and sprinklers, seeking solace from the heat of the day. For some, the heat can become almost unbearable. It quickly works to deplete the body's strength and energy, leaving one feeling lethargic and dehydrated. Many seek cool refreshing water, not to play in, but to satisfy the intense thirst that the heat brings. It is needed to bring balance and refreshing energy back to the body. We can not survive the heat without the vitality that this cool rejuvenating water brings.

On a much larger scale, the earth itself is in need of cool water, as the heat of long summer days strips it of life. Only refreshing showers of rain can restore the balance needed to sustain animals and vegetation.

"For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God." Hebrews 6:7

As cool rain clouds push across the sky, they encounter the resistance of the heat, which ushers in magnificent, resounding thunderstorms. This outpouring of rain leaves nothing untouched. Every tree, shrub and plant, down to the smallest quaking leaf and simple blade of grass, receives the refreshing showers they thirst after. And yet, there is more here than just a gently falling rain, but the very power of God is displayed through brilliant flashes of lightning and storm-tossed thunder. It is this display of God's awesome power that puts fear into the hearts of men, and it is this power that works mightily in our lives to bring about transformation and change.

Beloved, the same principle applies in our spiritual lives as well. The heat of our trials and tribulations on this earth seek to deplete the spiritual fervor and zeal that we have for the Lord. Everything in this world is in competition to win first place in our lives, a place that should be reserved for our Lord and Savior. As a result, we become much like the thirsty ground, anxious for God to pour out His Holy Spirit and bring refreshing to our souls.

A resounding cry echoes at the gates of heaven, "Lord! Send the rain! Pour out Your Spirit that we might be revived! We are desperate and thirsty for Your presence!". Then, just as the summer thunderstorm pushes across the sky on the tail of a heat wave, God opens up the floodgates of heaven and pours out His Spirit and life-changing power upon His thirsty people. Nothing in our lives goes untouched when we encounter the rainstorm of the Lord!

The aftermath carries a sweet-smelling savor that lingers in the breeze, a refreshing reminder testifying that indeed the rain has come. Likewise, we can experience the same sweet-smelling savor lingering in our lives as a testimony to the outpouring of God's Spirit upon us.

"For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life…" 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

In our spiritual lives, we must come to a point where we thirst after the things of the Lord and desire His presence instead of being satisfied with the status quo. We should come to desire and seek after not only the downpour of His Spirit upon us, but also the power of God in our lives that brings deliverance, renewal, transformation and vitality to our spiritual walk. Then, we must learn to linger in the aftermath of the storm, abiding in the sweet-smelling savor of Christ and anticipating the next encounter with the rainstorm of the Lord!

"For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out…but the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine and thine oil." Deuteronomy 11:10-14

About Kristenea M. LaVelle: I am a wife of 10 years and a homeschooling mother of five dedicated to teaching and living the truth of Jesus Christ. David and I make our home in Spokane, Washington where we can serve our family and friends with the love of Christ. It was through His direction that I began writing and found myself on a fascinating new journey in life. Now my joy is made complete by writing for Him and about Him. E-mail Kristenea

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