The Long Cold Winter

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Dion Todd December 15, 2016 - Filed in Devotional - 9,238 views
  For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn't return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:10 WEB
  
  After the long cold winter our grass was a dead brown. It looked pretty hopeless. Then one evening in the spring, we had huge rain and it almost instantly sprang to life and became a lush green. Before long, I needed to cut the grass because it had grown so high. All that it needed came from above; it needed rain.
  
  The Lord said that His word is like that. When He speaks a word, it will accomplish what He pleases. This includes the written word that we call the Bible (Logos), but also spoken words (Rhema) that goes forth out of His mouth, an utterance. This is a current, living word from God. Jesus said 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God' (Matthew 4:4). That means 'every utterance from the mouth of God.'
  
  If you feel that God has not spoken in the last two thousand years, then you may have an issue with this. That is fine, Jesus said many times 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.' (Matt. 11:15, Matt. 13:9, Matt. 13:43, Mark 4:9, Mark 4:23, Mark 7:16, Luke 8:8, Luke 14:35, Rev. 2:7, Rev. 2:11, Rev. 2:17, Rev. 2:29, Rev. 3:6, Rev. 3:13, Rev. 3:22). Apparently not everyone has their spiritual ears open.
  
  In my own life, I have found that one word from God changes everything. When the Lord speaks to you, the circumstances no longer matter. I have shared this story before, but once after being without work for several months, we began preparing to move out of our home. I felt so abandoned and alone that I didn't even pray anymore. I was angry and frustrated, and spiritually, I was in a very dark place.
  
  I went into my prayer room, sat down and without saying anything, I suddenly had an open vision of me entering a boxing ring with my gloves on. The camera view was from behind me and it looked like I was alone, but when the view panned around to my face, I could see the Lord standing behind me like a coach or a manager. Then He spoke these words: 'You are not alone, for I am in your corner and I have prepared you for this day, now get in there and fight!'
  
  I knew right then that everything was going to be alright and I came out of the prayer room and told my wife, Sylvia, that we were going to be fine. That was a Tuesday morning. Things happened very quickly after that and by Friday morning I found myself working as a pastor, and a friend stepped in and paid all of our bills for the month. That one word from God changed everything and turned despair into joy and hope.
  
  Many of us are dry and parched in our spirit just like that grass, and it looks pretty hopeless. It has been a long cold winter in our lives and it has taken its toll on us. Pains, hurts, disappointments and the lack of the Lord's presence slowly dry us up inside. The fun, the excitement, the wonder is now just a distant memory.
  
  God's presence can restore that joy and in minutes what looked hopeless and dead can be a renewed vision and a restoration of life. His word accomplishes what it was meant to do and is unstoppable. His word, is the final word. One gentle whisper from the Lord can be life changing. Why do we look in so many other places for the answer? Prepare your hearts for the rain, because the long cold winter has an ending.
  
  Prayer: Heavenly Father, let me hear Your voice speaking to me in a clear unmistakable way that I understand. I want to serve You with all of my heart and surrender my will to You. Use me Lord, teach me, lead me and I will follow You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.