Bible Ballistics: BBs #420 Send The Showers Of Blessing???
I’m sitting here this morning praising God for the wonderful rain that we received yesterday! After almost two months without rain, we here in Oklahoma always get a little edgy when it starts getting dry, and we’ve experienced two years with good rains and a welcomed recovery from the previous five years of drought. And whether folks recognize it or not, only God can send the rains that we need, and my confidence is in HIM— not the government nor the weather forecasters (Even though we appreciate the meteorologist’s efforts to keep us informed, they still can’t create the weather at all.)!
Spiritually speaking, we also can go through periods of spiritual drought—times when we just can’t seem to get on track, or stay on track, or keep our focus on God and His desire for us, we feel dry and barren! But just as God sends the rain to relieve the parched ground, and nourish the trees and flowers, in the same way HE sends the spiritual rain to refresh our souls. But sometimes we just aren’t looking or listening to see or receive the rain that is providing.
“After two days will he revive us:
in the third day he will raise us up,
and we shall live in his sight.
3 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
The prophet Hosea understood that God had not only ‘the plan’ for his life and the nation of Israel, but that God also has a ‘time’, His own ‘time’, the ‘time’ in which HE will accomplish His will in all things—including us! God is ever at work in our lives, even when we think we don’t see Him! And as many are busy with the hustle and bustle of the season, I just want to share a word of encouragement for those of us who sometimes feel that ‘drought’ in our hearts and need a refreshing rain of God’s Spirit to renew and encourage us so that we can press on faithfully.
“Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work
in you
will perform it
until the day
of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6
So don’t loose heart or your confidence in God the Father, Jesus the Son, or the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is in each believer! Seeing isn’t always ‘believing’!
“God is,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar
and be troubled,
though the mountains shake
with the swelling thereof. Selah.” Psalm 46:1-3
Remember it’s not what you see that keeps you going, but what you KNOW about God’s faithfulness as revealed in His Word! And that is a constant, assuring confidence!
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:
for he hath said,
I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say,
The Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear
what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5-6
Our ever-present help—Jesus, our Lord–has promised to “never leave thee, nor forsake thee”! So, regardless of what we see or feel, we can rest in the “Blessed Assurance” of God’s constant, faithful presence!
“My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them,
and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me,
is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them
out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30
In other words—if you are HIS—He has YOU–always! Don’t forget, but take confidence in the One who never sleeps, don’t let the past ruin your present! Press on for the prize!
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
Bible Ballistics 