Thursday, April 30, 2009

Restoring Rain

Joel 2:23-26
Be glad then, you children of Zion,
And rejoice in the LORD your God;
For He has given you the former rain faithfully,
And He will cause the rain to come down for you —
The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
"So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army which I sent among you.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the LORD your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.” NKJV

Isn’t it wonderful that when you’ve really blown it, and all the things you were warned about have happened, that the Lord still has a rescue plan available? He is willing, not only to save us from evil, but to restore the things that our sin has stolen from us. Because of their rebellion against the Lord and worshiping false gods, Israel went through severe persecution and bondage. Yet, when they turned again to the Lord and went back to their roots, God delighted in granting abundant renewal and restoration.

We Your children pray, Holy Spirit rain;
Let Your Glory come down!
Heaven’s river, flow so the world will know
That Your Glory’s come down!
We, Your people hunger for Your presence;
We are thirsty for the rain!
Breathe on us refreshing Wind of Glory;
Touch Your people once again!
Breath of Heaven, fill Your people;
Let Your Glory come down!
(Kevin Jonas)