The California Drought. Is there a Spiritual Connection?
Is there’s a spiritual connection between the California drought and our spiritual lives? Could the lack of rain be a result of our lack of fellowship with God? Is our dry land a reflection of our parched souls?
Instead of just praying for rain, I’m praying for Californians to turn their hearts to the Lord. To go back to their first love.
In the Old Testament, God often told His people to obey his commands, and if they did, He would protect them and bless them.
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain…if my people,
who are called by my name, will 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 7:13-14)
A pastor once told me that 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 doesn’t apply to us today. But I disagree. God is the same today as He was back in Bible times. A precedent has been set with this verse. If God made that promise to Solomon for the people of Israel, what’s to day He wouldn’t do it again for us. Maybe He’s just waiting for us to ask.
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:24)
Time and time again, whenever the Israelites followed God and obeyed His commands, God blessed them. Often He blessed them by giving them supernatural victory over their enemies. For example, in 2 Kings 6:16-17, Elisha defeated the Aramean army with God’s holy horses and chariots of fire. In Joshua 6, the walls of Jericho fell at the sound of the Israelites’ trumpets.
And in Judges 6 and 7, Gideon’s small army defeated the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern people. Conversely, when the Israelites wandered away from God or disobeyed His commands, they lost their battle. Joshua 7:11-12 describes how the Israelites were defeated after Achan stole “some of the devoted things” and then lied about it.
Don’t think the drought has anything to do with following God?
Here’s a fun coincidence. Yesterday was Easter Sunday. As usual, the attendance at our church was higher than usual because all the “C&E Christians” were there. Those are folks who only come to church on Christmas and Easter. Our church added an extra service to accommodate the larger crowds that we get on resurrection Sunday.
And guess what? It rained yesterday. I was walking out of church after a lovely Easter service and felt the cool rain lightly dropping on my head and shoulders. I laughed and thanked God as I ran to my car that was parked down the street. I can’t remember the last time I turned on my windshield wipers to swat rain drops away. Unfortunately, the rain didn’t last long. It stopped on my five-minute drive home. But then later during our meal, I looked out the dining room window and it was pouring. Lines of rain were dropping on the roof of the house next door. It only lasted for about ten minutes, but I was so happy to see water falling from the sky.
I got to thinking…more people than usual were at church yesterday seeking His face. Was the little bit of rain God’s affirmative response to our little bit of turning back to Him? Would it rain more if we all spent more time appreciating our Creator? More time thanking Him for all the blessings we have? More time developing a relationship with Him?
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood
and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me
and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said,
rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John7: 37b-38)
Maybe if more Californian’s would pray and be humble before Him, God would send more rain. And by praying I don’t mean begging Him for rain. I’m talking about just having a quiet conversation with God instead of rushing off to the next thing on our to do list. Include Him in what we’re doing and ask Him how we can be a part of what He’s doing here on earth.
Instead of just praying for rain, I’m praying for Californians to turn their hearts to the Lord. To go back to their first love. To stop striving to do things on their own and start co-laboring with the One who sees all, knows all, and created the heavens, the earth, the water we drink and the air we breath. Actually, I’ve been using this prayer for the United States as a whole. Many regions of our country are experiencing different kinds of plagues, and lots of them are weather related.
Will you join me I praying for more hearts to turn to the Lord?
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7)He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word
of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)
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