Thoughts for Life: #8 Miracle Rain

Poh Fang Chia- Life is hard for the villagers who live on a hilly terrain in the Yunnan Province of China. Their main source of food is corn and rice. But in May 2012 a severe drought hit the region and the crops withered.

Everyone was worried, and many superstitious practices were carried out as the people attempted to end the drought. When nothing worked, people started blaming the five Christians in the village for offending the spirits of the ancestors. (Google image, China agriculture)

These five believers gathered to pray. Before long, the sky darkened and thunder was heard. A heavy downpour started and lasted the whole afternoon and night. The corps were saved! While most of the villagers did not believe God sent the rain, others did and desired to find out more about Him.

In 1 Kings 17 and 18 we read of a severe drought in Israel. But in this case, we are told, it was a result of God's judgment on His people (17:1). They had begun to worship Baal, the god of the Canaanites, believing that this deity could send the rain for their crops. Then God, through His prophet Elijah, showed that He is the one true God who determines when rain falls.

Our all-powerful God desires to hear our prayers and answer our pleas. And though we do not always understand His timing or His purposes, God always responds with His best for our lives. [Poh Fang Chia].

Let's pray-

Father, when life was hard for the folks in Yunnan Province of China, they tried everything they knew to cause rain to fall to save their crops. It wasn't until the five Christians go together and prayed, that it rained.

Some believed in the God the Christians prayed to, but some did not. It gave the Christians the opportunity to share their faith in the God they believed in. We may need to pray for miracles such as this too, so we can get the attention of folks, and gain their attention.

In Your Word, there are stories of Your moving in miraculous ways in answer to prayers by those who needed Your help. They helped people to understand that it is You who determines when rain falls, and when it does not. Sometimes You hold it back in punishment for sinful practices to get attention of those You're dealing with.

As our All-Powerful God, Your desire is to hear and answer our pleas for help. We don't always understand Your timing or purposes, but You always respond with what is best for us.

We look to You for the provision we need, and ask for opportunities to show how great You are by what You'll do in answer to our prayers. We ask this in Jesus' name, for our good and to give Him all the glory. Amen

Today's Bible verses-

Philippians 3:20 "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Hebrews 13:14 "For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come."

Joshua 1:5 “I will be with you. I will not desert you nor abandon you.”

John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me”

Quote for today-

~ Dr. Myles Munroe- "God always sees what people only look at. In a manger, God saw a King in a servant, a Savior in a sacrifice, salvation in a crucifixion, a resurrection. In death, God was working at life; in defeat, He was looking at victory. What we look like is not want God sees. God looks beyond the surface to the potential deep within. Beyond the immediate troubles, God sees success, and He continues to call it forth until what He sees becomes reality." [DISCOVER THE HIDDEN YOU, p. 221, by Dr. Myles Munroe]

Words of wisdom-

~ Because there's no flesh and blood way to connect with God, we may find it a challenge to do so, but we're assured that when we do ask for his help, He hears and responds affirmatively. There are different ways to connect with Him, and folks are finding the best way for them to spend time is in prayer. Some walk, others sit quietly, others sing and others read the Word out loud. Doing all of these at different times keeps the prayer experience interesting and challenging.

Today's Popular post-

Begin with Praise

Andrew Murray- Let us begin by reading the benediction of the letter to the Ephesians. It reveals the true life of spiritual blessing, and we can cry and make it our own. Let us, in quiet meditation, wait on the Holy Spirit to work faith in our innermost consciousness.

Upcoming posts

What Is Happiness?

26th- Saturday's post by James H. Cagle

#9 Walk Away From Worry

29th- Tuesday's post by Jennifer Benson Schuldt

#10 Resting In God

7/1st- Thursday's post by Marion Stroud

That Thing

3rd- Saturday's post by Lee Forbes