We have a 50% chance of rain today! I live in Southern California and in my neck of the woods, it rarely rains. Growing up in the mid-west or northern states (depending on who you talk to), I loved rainy days! The smell of the rain, running outside to get drenched, catching water on my tongue, splashing in puddles. It was beautiful! It left everything green, shiny, and fresh.
It's funny, then, that I ended up in a very brown, dry, barren land, where the desert critters take over and rain is rare. Rain is a small, distant memory of what I love, it seems. Being homeschooled, however, we cancel school for rainy days. For real. Think of it as a snow day for schools, which we so very rarely have either. So when it does finally let loose, sprinkle or downpour, we are ready for it!
But as I sit here sneaking a peak out of the windows every now and then (OK. Every few minutes), hoping those clouds will build and turn gray and dump the heaviness of the rain inside of them down on us - or even a sprinkle! - I can't help but think of the symbolism of God and his "rain" pouring down on us. Those same feelings and thoughts I had when I was a kid: running free, fresh, that rain smell, splashing, carefree, joyful. That is what we can experience when we let God pour down his rain in our hearts and minds.
Renewal, refreshing, cooling, peaceful, clean, and pure. God accomplishes these things in our hearts through worship, reflecting, reading His Words - the Bible, prayer. I pray every day we are filled to overflowing with the rains of his love and mercy as we seek him with our whole hearts and as we stand before his throne and discover all of his newness and life. I also pray we will get a little rain today!
Copyright notice: I did not create this artwork. My friend posted it and we cannot seem to track the original artist. If I can ever find the creator of this, I will give credit.
