April Showers – Ask the Lord for Rain in the Spring
Posted by Sandy in God's Faithfulness, prayer, tags: ZechariahAsk the LORD for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture.
Zechariah 10:1 (NLT)
Don’t take the mercy of God for granted. That’s what I hear in this verse. Don’t assume that God’s grace and mercy will continue as they have. Ask Him to bless you with what you expect to happen anyway.
“April showers bring May flowers” is what my mom says every year. It’s a truism. Yet the prophet Zechariah instructed the Israelites to “ask for rain in the spring.” I see in that instruction a warning not to take the mercy of God for granted. We shouldn’t assume that God’s grace and mercy will continue as they have Ask God to bless you with the good things you expect to happen anyway.
“Lord, give me grace with my boss” – pray it even when you are experiencing grace with your boss.
“Lord, send healing and health” – pray it even when you are healthy.
“Lord, send rain on my garden” – pray it even when the forecast calls for rain.
Why would the prophet give these instructions? I can think of a few reasons:
It reminds us that we are dependent on God for everything. During prosperous times, it’s too easy for us to begin to think that we are the source of our prosperity. Praying for God’s blessing reminds us that all good things come from His hands.
It reminds us that things can change in an instant. There are droughts even during rainy seasons. Praying for blessings during seasons of blessings reminds us that the season of blessing could end at any time.
It gives us an opportunity to thank Him for answered prayers. When I ask God to send rain and tomorrow it rains – I will remember that God has answered my prayer and thanksgiving will grow in my heart.
It will cause our faith to grow. Even when we’re praying for the expected, when it happens, we are reminded of God’s ability to answer prayers, His willingness to answer prayer, and His goodness toward us. Being reminded of those things will cause our faith to grow…even though what happened was what we truly expected to happen. Still, there’s something inside that knows it was God. And our faith increases.
Are you lacking any of these things – knowing that you are dependent on God, realizing that your period of blessing could end at any time, needing a reason to be thankful, or lacking in faith? Try praying for what is likely to happen anyway. Pray for the rain during the rainy season. April showers bring May flowers. When those flowers bloom, you can praise God for His faithfulness and goodness to you.
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