When I woke up this morning, I could hear the rainfall tapping on the leaves of the landscape, as if to awaken the earth for a new day.
I thought to myself, “Another dreary day.” But after reading today’s verse-for-the-day, my outlook has change to hope, optimism, and has made me fall to my knees in prayer.
I did have another response when I read Joel 2:23 this morning. I had to grin and giggle because I did hear the rain outside, and it had been raining all last night as well.
Here’s what God’s word said this morning, “Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”
I knew there had to be more to story than just “be glad and rejoice because God is faithful and sends showers”, so I read all of chapters one and two of Joel. Yep, there was more. This autumn rains/abundant showers were referring to what God would give to the Israelites when they returned to God.
You see, they had turned away from Him, and God was punishing them with drought and sent an army of locusts to destroy everything that was left behind. But IF they would do what the Lord tells them to do…
- The Lord said, “Now come back to me with all your heart. Cry and mourn, and don’t eat anything! Show that you are sad for doing wrong. Tear your hearts, not your clothes” Joel 2:12-13a
…then He would restore their land. And guess what? They did and He did!
This brought me to my knees because when I think of how our nation has turned from The True and Living God (“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3) and is more interested in pleasing man instead of God (“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10). This saddens me! Our country was built on the foundation of the bible.
We need to all fall to our knees, pray for our nation, hope and rejoice in what God will and can do.
I pray God’s abundant love and blessings for y’all.