“I brought hunger to every city and famine to every town. But still you would not return to me,” says the LORD. “I kept the rain from falling when your crops needed it the most. I sent rain on one town but withheld it from another. Rain fell on one field, while another field withered away. People staggered from town to town looking for water, but there was never enough. But still you would not return to me,” says the LORD.
Amos 4:6-8 NLT
It’s beginning to rain. We have been in a serious drought here for a while. 2020, in addition to a pandemic and social upheaval, brought the driest year in history in Tucson. Remember, this is desert in a good year. Our average is 11.59 inches per year. 2020 brought only 4.17 inches. That’s dry. The first rain of 2021 came this week. My dog and I went for our walk and there were puddles! He seemed almost frightened by the sight of water standing on the road – he didn’t want to get near it. It was unfamiliar.
God uses rain to represent the presence and move of His Spirit. In Amos, He used the lack of rain to communicate His displeasure with Israel. Drought was intended to bring repentance and revival. They didn’t respond. When I saw this week’s puddles and occasional showers, I thought “It’s beginning to rain!” Thank God for natural rain, but I want to see the rain of God’s Spirit one more time before I go home. Let 2021 be the year of revival – let it rain! I would encourage you to do 3 things:
- Pray for rain: Zechariah 10:1 / James 5:7-8
- Expect the rain of the Spirit when you gather with other believers – not just a song and a Bible lesson, a visitation.
- Be ready to explain to those who have either forgotten or never seen the outpouring of the Spirit. Don’t let them get scared off by the puddles. Rain is good!
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