“The Sound, the Abundance, the Rain”

"The Sound, the Abundance, the Rain"     

   

    

   Like much of the southern portion of the United States, drought presently plagues our area.  Forecasters predict precipitation in the next few days, and we will gladly look toward the heavens with hope for "sound of abundance of rain" (I Kings 18:41).

   "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is" (Psalm 63:1).

   In times of spiritual drought, the great Forecaster calls us to look Heavenward no less for the the sound, the abundance, and the rain.  "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:2-3).  Unlike earthly prognosticators, our Heavenly Father guarantees the certainty of His prediction of spiritual precipitation.  If we look in accordance with the upward gaze of faith as defined by Scripture, we will experience the refreshing of the Lord Jesus Christ that has never once failed to fall upon those who look to Him.  The challenge involves our gaze.  Will we fix and focus our attention on the Savior who serves as the very Life of our lives and the ongoing refreshing of our hearts?  An open Bible, prayerful communion with our Father through the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of faithful brothers and sisters determines the answer to this question.  Genuine faith does not just happen.  God made and spiritually birthed us in Christ with the capacity to avail ourselves of His drought preventing and drought ending grace.  The Apostle Paul commanded, "Exercise thyself rather unto godliness" (I Timothy 4:7).  Thus, if we find ourselves to be "wearied and faint", we can be sure of one thing: we are not "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" according to the parameters set by Scripture.

   I seek to often remember that God comforts, but He does not coddle.  He rather calls us to do something when we feel or act as if we are spiritually parched.  We are to look.  Or more literally, our Father commands that we gaze upon His Son and our Lord.  This involves the remembrance of His promised aid, and the chosen confidence that "sound of abundance of rain" assures us of the certainty of His forecast.  No one has ever trusted in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus and been disappointed for doing so.  No one ever will.  "Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds" declared the Psalmist, clouds that are full of life-giving and drought-ending waters (Psalm 36:5).  We cannot know with certainty that rain will fall on our area in the next few days.  However, we can be sure of the sound, the abundance, and the rain for our hearts.  The Forecaster promised such grace, and He also determines the climate of our spirits, administering His refreshing in accordance with our looking…

"He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

(John 7:38)

"Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary."

(Psalm 68:9)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

(Titus 3:1-2)