Let It Rain

Through the years, rain has become one of my favorite things. It smells so fresh after it rains. In the spring, rain washes away pollen and purifies the air. It can be frustrating when it ruins your shoes or slows down traffic, but rain is a beautiful thing.

Rain brings fruitfulness. There's that word again! It's one of those things we are praying for this year. In another blog I talked about how painful pruning must happen for there to be fruitfulness. Well, I hate to tell ya, but you gotta endure the rain to have the fruitfulness, too! 

All throughout scripture, rain precedes fruitfulness:

James 5:18  ...heaven gave rain and the earth bore it's fruit. 

Leviticus 26:4 I will give you rains in their season, and the land shall yield it's increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Isaiah 55:10  For as the rain...come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and spout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater

Acts 14:17 ...he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness

Rain is not always pleasant. The clouds are dark, and the ground is messy. Rain changes plans. Rain affects what you wear, what your drive, and how you feel. Rain interferes with vitamin D absorption from the sun. Rain, in excessive amounts, can create hazardous conditions. 

Yet we endure the effects of the rain and are able to enjoy the fruitfulness of the earth. 

In life, we must endure the rain. It feels like the pain and persecution is pouring down. It feels dismal clouded by darkness and disappointments. You're enduring the changed plans and hazardous conditions, the darkness and messiness. But don't focus on that. Focus on the beautiful sound of the rain. Focus on the benefits of it's cleansing. Know that when it rains, it means that fruitfulness will follow. 

Stop waiting for the rain to end and appreciate the storm. The rain seems harsh and heavy, but it's part of the process. ...that fruitfulness process you've been praying for. If it's raining, then your prayers are being answered and fruitfulness is on the way! So, I say, become a pluviophile, and let it rain!!!!

(Pluviophile. (n) A lover of the rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days)

Oh! I forgot one more thing...everyone always complains about the rain. Why be like everyone else? That's so average!  Rise above and appreciate the rain! Rain in the forecast means one thing: fruitfulness is in the forecast! 

Praise and Tell!

Sometimes you pray for something, and then when it happens, you forget to praise Him for it!

I want to praise Him as passionately as I petition Him when I am in need! 

James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Apparently, I was immature, incomplete, and lacking a lot, so I've been put through some trials lately!  It sure has produced some perseverance, though! Thank God for verse 12 of that chapter promising: "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." ...gives me blessed assurance of the ending to my trials and the reward for my perseverance! 

So in all these trials, I've been asking for different things. One of my trials had to do with finances (who doesn't have that trial, right?!). My car is paid for, but it was costing me $200-$500 per month in repairs for several months last year. In November, I prayed, "Lord, you can do anything. Please fix my car so it won't need major repairs until I am done with school." 

It wasn't until last week, when I was going through some paperwork for my car that I noticed something miraculous: the last car repair receipt was from that day in November when I prayed that prayer!!! It sounds so small, but for me, it is huge! It was a huge burden on me, and I didn't even realize He had answered my prayer until now! It's April! That's about 5 months of no repairs! 

God is so awesome. He loves us so much. Don't be afraid to take even the small things to Him in prayer. If it means something to you, then it means something to Him, and He wants to help you with it! 

I Chronicles 16:9 says, "Sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works!" It doesn't say to tell of some of His wondrous works, it says all! So next time you recognize an answered prayer, whether large or small, praise Him for it and tell someone!