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The Long Cold Winter

  • 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.

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20 comments
  • 1
Rick Doran
Rick Doran edited: December 15, 2016

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your blessings, thank you for 

the rain that you send.

in the precious name of Jesus I Pray. Amen.

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Mike OBryan
Mike OBryan

amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Deborah  Blackshear
Deborah Blackshear

Father God I Thank You for this Word of encouragement.  Thank that You are God and God Alone.  Worthy to be Praised. I give God the Glory. 

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen, Thank you Father for your guidance

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome

amen

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Please God let Larisa's winter end. Amen

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza

Amen

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Terryl Nichols
Terryl Nichols

I know so many that are going through a cold winter in their lives. Please Lord speak life to them. Let them know you are with them. Amen

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen. I have found when something turns sour or bad news arrives, it is the opportunity for God to show His strength. As we lean on Him, He works and sometimes He shakes things up quite a bit, but He works everything out for the good for those who love Him and are called to His purpose.

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

If this wasn't meant for anyone else, it was absolutely 100% meant for ME!!!! God, I thank You for hearing my cry, for seeing my heart, and for now sending forth this Word of encouragement. I look forward to Your "rain", Your Word, Your refreshing, Your renewing in my life and that of my children...in Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!!!!!!!!!

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Liza Mena
Liza Mena

This  is really beautiful and full of hope. I have felt the long winter storm in this season, I no longer have any more tears to cry, I don't even have words to pray.. I'm really tired and have no strength in me to continue to fight. I really needed to read this today. A ray of hope.. thank you so much for this devotion. 

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.edited: December 15, 2016

Amen, our long cold winter has begun here in Detroit, there's snow on the ground and the temperature is 5 degrees fahrenheit. The drought that I am experiencing (at the brook Cherith) will become the refreshing experience that I so need and desire. Jehovah-Jireh

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Ida Ruth Rodriguez
Ida Ruth Rodriguez

Amen, I receive this!!!

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Kimberly Dublin
Kimberly Dublin

Words of hope testimony of faith and humanness, when feeling like giving up, how our GOD shows up and his words never reutrn void.  Thank you Pastor!  God bless you.

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Diane Casey
Diane Casey

Amen! The winter comes to an end.

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Diane Symborski✝
Diane Symborski✝

Amen!    Thank you Pastor Dion for todays devotion. :-)

I claim Pastor's prayer over me. Amen. <3

 

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. Amen. <3

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Fraser Keys
Fraser Keys

Amen thank you for your message Pastor Dion!  So many times in the past I felt I was on my own through tough times now I have faith in the Lord that he is always with me!

December 15, 2016
  • 1
Rachael Burke
Rachael Burke

Amen,thank you pastor Todd , seems as if you are talking to me directly , I know my season of winter is over and my joy of plenty rain is at hand. Thank you Lord for your blessings. 

December 16, 2016
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Amen.  Rhanks Pastor Todd!  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.  Amen.

December 16, 2016
  • 1
Rosemary Marsh
Rosemary Marsh

Amen.Heaven Father I give you thanks with all of my heart,for the new doors you are opening,and teaching me to hear your voice.when I surrender all to you and stepped out in faith to sharing your love with others and your word.O what joy you gave me.I want to serve you more to walk in the Spirit,to give you All the Glory and Praise..Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit more of you and less of me.Give me a hearing heart and always the will to obey,In The Name of Jesus Christ I pray.

December 16, 2016