The first time I came to Israel, in the month of June, I enjoyed the bright sunshine and endless blue skies for a month before I thought, “I wonder what the weather forecast will be next week?” I bought a newspaper and turned to the weather section and laughed when I read that the forecast would be “More of the Same.” (This is literally what the entire forecast said.)

In Israel the rains stop after Passover, and everything starts getting drier and drier. The people pray for dew from heaven until Autumn when the rains return. The Bible calls these former and latter rains. The former rains are those that come at the beginning of the rainy season (usually around October). The latter rain is the last few sprinkles of a shower or two before the rainy season ends (usually around April). And there is absolutely no rain between the latter rains and the next former rains. This is what everyone expects, but the Lord often does the unexpected. Look at Zechariah 10:1…

“Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.”

God says to ask and believe for what is not expected. If He can bring thunderstorms when nobody is looking for rain, then He can do a miracle for you too. It’s been a tough year for all of us. Many people are battling weariness and stress. Has your hope and joy been waning like the latter rains? Ask the Lord for refreshing rain for your soul at this time when you feel dry and your future looks bleak. And then look up, for He will send supernatural rain to bless your heart and revive you. Your dry and crusty heart will become a field of green grass when He pours His fresh Spirit into you.

“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.” (Joel 2:23)

The Lord will stretch His abundant blessings to refresh you even through the long, dry seasons of life. His rain will not end—your latter rains will overlap into your coming former rains! And here is a prayer from Ephesians 3:16-19 for four refreshing promises that the Lord is offering you…

  • “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

  • that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

  • that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;

  • that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Exercise your faith! Believe God for more! Ask Him for rain (a miracle) when it is not expected. He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power (of the Holy Spirit) that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20) I pray you will have a heavenly-enriched day!

 

–dmrf