So let's think about the characteristics of rain, and how it applies to this prophetic encouraging message God told us.
Rain comes unexpectedly:
Have you ever heard reporters freak out on the news about this big storm coming, and once it comes it's only a few sprinkles? Or maybe you heard on the news that there's only going to be a little showers just to go outside and find out it's pouring. Only God knows how the rain will come. We can only make educated guesses. Apply this to the outlook on the year. We know something great is coming, but we don't know exactly what. It may be spiritual elevation, or it may be elevation in the world. It could be a little bit of both! The point is don't place borders on God by defining it. Remember God wants you to be prepared for what He has for you. You can never be prepared for spiritual blessings if you're too busy trying to figure out what job or clothes God will bless you with this year. Just stay in the present and praise God for who He is. Everything else is just icing on an already delicious cake.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
It comes in abundance:
Before Peter (formerly known as Simon) became a disciple for Jesus Christ, he was a fisherman. He wasn't a good one either. When Jesus approached him, he was struggling to catch fish. He gave his all to this task and still didn't experience success. We are all familiar with that struggle. You sent 50 résumés out, but you get nothing but rejections. You worked all that overtime just for Uncle Sam to take most of it. Now you're stuck wondering how everything is going to get paid. We can go on forever right? Well Peter was in this same situation. Jesus told him to go out into deep water and lay out his net. It's bad enough Peter hasn't had success with catching fish, but now he has this Man randomly walk up to him and tell him to go even further out of his way and try again. So in other words, even though you were rejected by 50 jobs in one month, Jesus is telling you to apply for that job you are no where near qualified for. Even though you've worked your butt off and only received $100 more on your check, Jesus is telling you not to work overtime. Instead trust that He will give you the means you need to make ends meet. It seems far-fetched right? So do you trust Him?
Peter seemed a little skeptical at first. He told Jesus,
Luke 5:5 “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything."
But Peter trusted Him. He completed his sentence,
Luke 5:5 "But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Jesus took that mustard seed of faith and sprouted it into a beautiful abundance.
Luke 5:6-7 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
Jesus didn't just give them a few fish. He gave them a big load of fish. It doesn't rain one drop at a time. Even during the mildest of showers, raindrops come plentifully to the ground. So don't think He won't do it in your life. When Jesus had this encounter with Peter it was before he was saved. He even acknowledged immediately afterwards that he was a sinner. So don't let Satan convince you that God won't do it for you. If He did it before, He can do it again!
It causes seeds to grow:
Luke 5:10-11 “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Now I can write a whole post on those verses alone. It's so loaded with God's wisdom. Jesus gave Peter an assignment to help others. Later down the line Peter went on and introduced thousands of people to Jesus Christ. But it all started with that blessing Jesus gave him. We are planters. When God gives us things we are to plant it in places where it will multiply. Peter literally spent all night searching for fish, and just like that Jesus came and gave him so many fish that he could barely contain it. Now Peter could have stayed there and clung to his fish, BUT HE KNEW JESUS WAS WORTH MORE. Why settle for a creation and reject the creator? If Peter would have stayed, as plentiful as the fish was, it would have ran out eventually. Then he would have been right back where he started. So when God blesses you, remember who is more important. Use your blessing to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
John 4:14 "But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
It cleanses the land:
So hold on tight. Like the song says, tell God your soul longs for Him. Seek Him. In due time He will come into your life this year and blow you away with His greatness. Just remember with blessings come responsibility. So use your gifts to help the next person. For that you will receive eternal gifts and eternal happiness.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
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