This month of February is what I associate with spring in the desert. I usually see some daisies blooming by late January and hitting their peak soon. The sunshine is warm and gearing up for the serious rays of the months that follow. Are you ready for spring?
You may be a fan of another season of the year. Isn’t it wonderful that God has given us variety to appeal to varying preferences? We get to take turns in welcoming our favored season, knowing by God’s grace that the sun comes up in the morning and the seasons follow each other by the amazing blessing of the Creator. His faithfulness is constant in spite of the varying predictability of what happens in nature at times in a world where sin continues to leave a mark.
We give thanks that the sun rises on the good and on the evil by God’s design, and He sends rain on the earth to benefit both the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). God is good to humans whether they acknowledge His blessing or not. Have you taken time to express thanks to Him?
The Bible doesn’t focus primarily on what happens in the springtime. But one passage we would do well to note is Zechariah 10:1, where we are invited to ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. The springtime was the time of the latter rain, the rain that would boost the crops toward harvest.
So this is a season where we can take seriously Scripture’s call to prayer. Spring is the time for the last growth spurt before harvest. If we see harvest as the end of the world, the time when the wheat and the tares are gathered up and this world’s routines are ended, we would do well to ask God for the rain of the Holy Spirit in our lives. That word could also be spelled ‘reign’. We each need the Holy Spirit reigning in our lives as we make decisions and choices. What will occupy our time? What will take our attention this season? Are we due for a thorough spring cleaning? If so, God specializes in such makeovers. His promise in 1 John 1:9 is still sure today. If we confess our sins, He can cleanse us.
God has the amazing ability to clean us up. He only waits for our permission, our request. If we confess…if we want His intervention, He is eager and ready to go to work. Wouldn’t our church family be blessed if we all choose to pray for rain/reign this spring?
Will you?