Holy Spirit, Rain Down!

     I heard a message the other day that compared the Holy Spirit to rain and/or water. The preacher took several different biblical stories in which water was involved and replaced it with the Holy Spirit. In one example he said that the the mother of Moses had to place her faith in the Holy Spirit (Nile River) to protect her son and keep him safe from harm. The Holy Spirit/River not only protected her son, but also sent him directly to the King's Palace. It was a very powerful comparison. I had never really considered the concept before, but the more I thought about it the more it made perfect sense.
     I haven't been able to get the idea off my mind since then. In fact, my mind went all the way back to Genesis. In the beginning, there was no need for rain. God allowed water to bubble up from the center of the earth to water the ground (Genesis 2:5-6). It wasn't until sin entered the picture that rain began to fall from the sky. The first time God "opened the windows of heaven" was when He sent the flood. We should live our lives so that God's Spirit bubbles up from within us, but when we let sin get in the way God has to send His Spirit down in the form of rain in order to get our attention. I took two years of AP English in high school, and one of the most important things we ever learned was symbolism. In literature, it is a well-known fact that rain is symbolic of cleansing, renewal, and restoration. God sent the flood to cleanse the evil of that day and create a new beginning. It is for that same reason that He sends rain into our lives as well. We need to stop recognizing rain as "punishment" and start seeing it for what is truly is - the Holy Spirit of God working in our lives.
     God's Spirit convicts our heart and chastises us when we need correction because God is just and jealous for us. But He also loves us unconditionally, and He will wrap us in His arms and protect us just as He did with baby Moses on the Nile River. It may be rainy and bleak in your spiritual life right now, but remember that the Holy Spirit is guiding us to King's Palace and after every storm comes a rainbow. Just as He allowed Moses to part the Red Sea, the Holy Spirit can make a way when there seems to be no way.
    Take time today and thank God for the rain He has sent your way, because the absence of rain is called a drought. If you’re in a spiritual drought it is because you have yet to welcome the Holy Spirit into your life. Without His presence in your life you will forever be in thirst of the Living Water and you will never truly reap the fruits of the Spirit. Acts 2:17 says that in the final days God will pour out His Spirit, so give Him praise for the rain in your life! If you are experiencing a drought, then welcome the Holy Spirit into your life before it's too late and ask Him to rain down in all that you say and do.



“No eye has seen, no ear has heard. No mind can know what God has in store. So open up Heaven and open it wide, over your church and over our lives. Let Your power fall, let Your voice be heard. Come and change our hearts as we stand on Your Word. Holy Spirit, rain down!”

–Hillsong United

***

“Bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free. Bring me anything that brings You glory. And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that's what it takes to praise You - Jesus, bring the rain!”

–Mercy Me

Preparation of Peace

"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established."

-Proverbs 4:26



     I usually walk with my head down. It's not because I'm purposely avoiding people, and I'm not sad or depressed. I'm just clumsy. Seriously. My past experiences have taught me that I tend to trip when I get confident and start looking around while I'm walking. Up the stairs. Down the stars. Cracks in the sidewalk. Bumps in the road. It happens. But, if I keep my head down I can see what's ahead of me. I know where I'm going and I know what stumbling blocks to avoid. Life is the same way.
     I've been studying the Armor of God recently, and it says to have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. If you took out the word "preparation" the verse would still make sense, but it's there for a reason. The word "preparation" is especially important because following Christ is not a peaceful journey. There are moments of peace along the way, but mostly you're just preparing for the peace that comes when you reach your final destination. It's a learning process. There are bumps in the road. You will fall down a few times, but there is a purpose in it all. God is preparing you for something greater than yourself. He is taking you somewhere, and He wants to grow you along the way. He wants to teach you, so let Him.
     Study His Word. Talk to Him daily. Let Him talk to you, and listen to what He has to say. Before long you will learn how to avoid the potholes. In time, you will even begin to develop a vision of the road ahead. You will have a better understanding of where you're going and how you're going to get there. Eventually, you won't have to always walk with your head down. You'll be strong enough in your faith, confident enough in your God, that you will be able to lift up your head from time to time and look around without stumbling. Don't get me wrong, there will still come times when the bumps catch you by surprise. You may even fall flat on your face a time or two. But God is standing close by, and He's always ready and willing to pick you up.
     Don't live your life in a constant search for peace. It will never come, and you'll always end up disappointed. Life isn't about finding peace; it's about preparing for peace. Ultimate peace only comes when this life is over. Until then, enjoy the journey. Let the road reveal itself to you. Let God pick you up when you fall. Learn from your mistakes and move on. It's all worth it in the end... an ETERNITY of peace awaits you!