Praying for rain...

Praying for rain may strike you as an odd or antiquated notion, but it's actually a sign of a healthy spirit - one that can acknowledge its dependence on God and what He supplies.

The famous Bible passage which encourages us to pray for revival says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) But what was the healing the land needed? Sometimes it was lack of rain.

In the verse before the famous one, God tells the nation of Israel, "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people..." (2 Chron. 7:13) This provides a little context. God has the ability, should He choose, to turn off the spigot.

The people of that day lived and died (literally) with the weather and the rain cycle that gave them their harvest. So God found it easier perhaps to get their attention than He does ours. Has anyone noticed the drought or near-drought conditions in our neck of the woods of late? Read this to see how some wells are drying up and just how little rain we are getting. Not only wells but also agriculture is being affected. (You can track drought conditions all over by going here.)

Take some time in your prayer closet this week to thank God for the provision which we so often take for granted. Then, and at the risk of sounding odd, or even antiquated, ask Him for rain in our region.