A week ago Sunday, torrential rains poured in Middle Tennessee reminiscent of the area’s May 2010 floods. Areas that had been thirsty for water—even though we had received a recent healthy rain just a few days before—became ponds. Trickles became gullies with streams turning into raging waterways. Flash flood notifications jingling across our smartphones, warned constantly of possible impending danger.
While sitting on our wraparound porch watching all this unfold, the mental pictures of my son-in-law trying to dig the rock-hard dirt the week before, played in my mind.
It is amazing to see in a short period of time, land that is soaking wet one day, then parched in the next two, can be waterlogged again in a short twenty-four hour period. In thinking on that, what hit me is that our hearts act the same when it comes to being in the Presence of the Lord.
When we are abiding and are soaking in—like a sponge—God’s Presence, our hearts are soft and supple before Him. We sense His voice, and responding with a “yes,” rise up in obedience to follow as the Holy Spirit leads.
But when we’re not spending time, but in obligation are just touching base with the Lord, our hearts begin to harden like soil that hasn’t seen rain. Even if it has just been a few days.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture found in Psalm 68: 9-10 (NKJV) says, “You, O God sent a plentiful rain, Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, When it was weary. Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.”
Can you see yourself in that Scripture on those days when life is overwhelming and your spirit is depleted to almost nothing? When your heart feels poor?
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:3 (NKJV), “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
What an incredible promise and encouragement!
If only we would look to the Lord, He would send His Holy Spirit to renew and confirm us, because we belong to Him. So the next time it rains, remember …
Heavenly Father, please always remind me to come to You when my heart is dragging. Please silence anything that would distract me from coming straight-way to You. In Your Son’s precious name, with thanksgiving, Amen.
Kimberly
“Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.”
Joel 2:23-27 (NKJV)
How this blessed me! Beautifully worded and passionately received~