Are there areas in your life that you have had difficulties with on a regular basis? Are there things you’ve failed at or habits you’ve struggled with over and over? If so, then let me assure you that you are not alone.
As humans, we often fail, fall short and come up lacking in our own strength. We are incomplete. We are insufficient. But thank God for His love, His mercy and the beautiful gift of His grace!
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJ) says, And He (Jesus) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you…”
The Message Bible translates this verse as: My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
What exactly is grace? The Greek word for grace is charis, which means “gift, favor, benefit,” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance). And it is used to imply “pleasure, delight, favorable regard, beauty, friendly disposition, kindness, or goodwill,” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
The Greek root of “grace” implies “a superior stooping, bending or reaching down in kindness to an inferior.” This is a picture of God.
I like the way one minister explains it: “Grace is a kindness. It’s a gift – not something earned, deserved or merited. The grace of God is His favor, His anointing, His ability, His support, His wisdom, and His help.”
Isn’t that wonderful?
James 4:6 (AMP) says, But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully)…
and
Hebrews 4: 16 (KJV) says, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Grace is more than a little prayer we say before our meals. It is the power of the Holy Spirit to meet our needs and solve our problems. It is help in our time of need. It is enough – it’s all you need. God’s grace is sufficient for you!
God has given His grace to us. That grace is a supernatural gift of inner strength, ability, understanding, favor and more. As we learn to receive His grace, He will supernaturally help us to succeed in whatever situation we face.
John 1:16 (AMP) says, For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received…one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
The Lord has given us one grace after another, but just like any other gift, we have to receive it. We have to tap into this supernatural power. It won’t just fall upon us – we have to choose to accept it and walk in it.
If you choose not to receive and walk in God’s grace, then life will be a struggle – difficult and draining. You will have to do it on your own. Life will be hard. You will feel as if you’re walking around in a fog, and you will experience a sense of detachment from life and from the things of God.
But if you will learn to receive God’s precious gift of grace, there will be a supernatural flow to your life – a supernatural ease and ability to do what He has called you to do. Areas that you have had difficulty in will become easy. Things that you have failed to do, with enough grace, you now can do. Bad habits or addictions you have struggled with for years will be broken as you draw upon His grace.
With God’s grace, you will find that you make it through tests, trials and tribulations that might destroy someone else. God’s grace will empower you to stand through every circumstance or situation.
Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 12:9 again, but this time in the Amplified Bible:
But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.
Without His grace, we are insufficient and incomplete. We come up lacking every time. But His amazing gift of grace is sufficient for us. It is enough. It is all we need.
Embrace God’s grace. Draw upon the strength and power of His grace. It’s a free gift – underserved and unearned, but it’s yours if you’ll just receive it!
Prayer:
Father, I thank You for the free gift of Your amazing grace. Today, I receive Your grace – Your power, Your ability, Your help – to accomplish all that I need to accomplish. Your grace strengthens me to stand no matter what comes my way. Your grace is sufficient. It is all that I need. It is enough. I embrace Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Do you ever just feel depleted? Like you’re running on fumes? Like you’ve given ALL you have, and there’s nothing left? Maybe you dream of running far, far away just so you can rest your weary self.
As moms, we’ve all been there. By nature, we are givers. However, if we don’t take the time to pull away from the daily routine and replenish our own souls, then we won’t have anything to give to those we love most.
To replenish means “to fill or make complete again, to resupply, to inspire or nourish, to become full again.”
If we allow ourselves to give and give, yet never take the time to nourish our own souls we could become emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted, overly sensitive, discouraged, and possibly even depressed.
So, it is essential that we learn what things nourish us, inspire us, and fill our souls to the brim. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of over 100 ways to replenish your soul and have broken them down into various categories (though some are interchangeable).
All of these suggestions won’t necessarily work for every single individual, but I believe that you can find several that will help you or even spark other ideas that will. I encourage you to read the list and find a few things to add to your daily, weekly, and monthly self-care routines. (And if you don’t have a self-care routine, now’s the time to begin one!)
Be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom to enter my giveaway for a chance to win my You Are a Masterpiece art course – a fun way to replenish your soul and spirit!
Replenish Your Soul by Nurturing Your Spirit
Our souls are vitally connected to our spirits, so if you’re feeling depleted check this area first.
Take a few moments each day to meditate in the Word, to renew your mind, and reset your thoughts. This will help you calm worrisome thoughts, release hurts and negative feelings and regain your spiritual and emotional strength.
Read inspirational books that help you grow spiritually.
Create a gratitude journal and take some time each night to record the things you’re grateful for.
Keep Your Body Well
A healthy body is connected to your overall well-being and is essential to caring for your soul.
Update your wardrobe to include clothes that make you feel beautiful/fun/sassy/hot/artsy – whatever!
Try something new with your hair – new cut, new style, new color, new updo. Just have fun with it.
Give Your Soul Expression
A wonderful way to replenish your soul is to give expression to it – whether it’s joy, excitement, peacefulness, and sometimes even sorrow. Rather than holding in your emotions, find a way to express them creatively.
Listen to music. What types of music do you love? Find the genres that inspire you, energize you, soothe you, etc. and play them as you work, exercise, pray, and drive.
If you play an instrument, make your own music. This art form can give wonderful expression to the deep emotions of the human soul.
Sing (whether you think you can or can’t) – it will lift your spirits and bring joy to your soul.
Dance like nobody’s watching (as the saying goes). Of course, there’s no way I’m gonna dance if someone is! 😮 But you can…if you want…
Play! Keep a happy, lighthearted disposition, and make time for a little fun on a regular basis.
Have a good laugh often to release those “feel good” hormones into your blood stream and boost your energy level.
Live in the “now.” Learn to be present in the present. Celebrate the little things and determine to enjoy each day.
Stimulate Your Mind & Imagination
Sometimes just pulling away from the “daily-ness” of life can help replenish your soul. Spark your intellect or imagination by partaking of great ideas or the genius of others.
Join (or start) a book club with a group of friends or soon-to-be-friends.
Listen to audio books while cleaning, decluttering, working out, etc.
Read poetry to yourself or listen to it being read aloud.
Thumb through old magazines and allow your mind to
Watch a great movie and be transported to another time and place.
Find Ways to Express Your God-Given Creativity
You don’t have to be an artist to express your God-given creativity, all you need to do is live a life that reflects your uniqueness. So begin to give everything you do your own personal touch. Use your imagination and intuition to express something that is uniquely you.
What hobbies do you enjoy? Make sure you take time each week to pursue your creative passions.
Create an art journal. If you want to try your hand at a certain art medium but don’t know where to begin, start out with a journal. Sketch (or paint) your thoughts, ideas, emotions, quotes, or whatever in the journal on a regular basis. Practice makes progress.
Join a local art class or enjoy a “paint party” every now and then.
Find a few friends who enjoy scrapbooking, sewing, knitting, or any craft for that matter, and get together on a regular basis to create.
Draw or doodle on a sketch pad, or have fun with some adult coloring books and markers.
Sign up for lessons in an area that interests you: ballroom dancing, a musical instrument, photography, pottery, painting, a foreign language. Don’t let those dreams die!
Satisfy Your Senses
Perhaps your soul needs to indulge in some sensory stimulation to fill “full” again:
Cook a delectable gourmet meal and eat it on your fine china, using your silverware, linen napkins, and crystal goblets. Don’t have any? Go to yard sales and thrift stores & create your own eclectic “set” to use.
Treat yourself to some dark chocolate (or whatever “sweeties” you love). Keep a hidden stash just for you – you knowyou have to hide it from those young’uns – and their father – or at least I do)!
Gratify your senses with aromatherapy. Diffuse essential oils which can calm and center your mind, ease anxiety and stress, or stimulate and energize you by reducing the effects and mental fatigue.
Get a massage whether it’s a professional one, a sensual massage given by your husband, a sweet (but ultimately pathetic) massage by an obliging kid, or a “poor man’s massage” with a foam roller. Massage has a wonderful way of refreshing your body and mind, relieving anxiety, and tons of other benefits.
Take a long, warm bath with lavender salts by candlelight and some soothing classical music to relax your mind and body.
Solitude for Your Soul
Sometimes you just need to pull away from everyone and everything and just enjoy your own company. Even if you only have a few moments of alone-time, your soul can receive replenishment.
Have a cuppa. Even on the busiest days it is possible to pull away for a few moments and sit down with a nice hot cup of tea (or coffee, if you must). During this time you can sit quietly and let that lovely beverage warm your body and soul while your mind can wander or reset.
Journal your deepest thoughts or ideas. Spend five to fifteen minutes writing down things that are on your mind, your latest inspiration or anything that may be bothering you.
Take a nap. You know what wonders it does for your wee child’s mood? Yeah, it’ll help you too.
Take a walk and enjoy the local scenery while allowing your mind to wander.
Unplug. Turn off the phone/computer/TV/radio and just “be.”
Take the day off (if you can) and do absolutely nothing. Just putter around the house and let your mind unwind. Sit on the front porch swing or lie in a hammock and rest.
Say no to things you really don’t want or don’t realistically have time or energy for.
Say yes to things that make you happy. And perhaps splurge a little on yourself. Buy a small luxury just for you.
Go to the library by yourself. Check out some books or read some there – just indulge yourself in the delicious musty smell of learning and imagination.
Let Nature Satisfy Your Soul
There is nothing like spending time in the great outdoors to put all of life’s problems in perspective. Nature can awaken your soul and stimulate your senses, making you feel more alive. Then on the other hand, it can quiet and still your soul, bringing you immense comfort, tranquility and peace. You need the beauty of the natural world and God has generously given it to you.
Soak up the sun. Spend a little time enjoying the Vitamin D boosting benefits of the sun each day and elevate your mood at the same time.
Plant and cultivate a garden.
Don’t have space? Create a terrarium or fairy garden instead. Or put more houseplants around your home.
Take a nature hike into the hills or mountains with your family and enjoy a picnic afterwards.
Enjoy a lunch break at your local park and feed the ducks with some breadcrumbs.
Find water (creek, river, falls, beach, lake, etc.) and sit by it, listening to its gentle gurgle or crashing waves. Allow the water to relax your mind and nourish your soul.
Lie under big, puffy clouds imagining all sorts of creatures from their shapes.
Stargaze. On a cool, clear night try to identify any visible planets or constellations. Or watch for falling/shooting stars.
Wrap up and sit on the front (or screened-in) porch and enjoy a good thunderstorm.
Sit outdoors by the fire pit at night and just watch the flames & sparks.
Listen to the “evening course” of crickets, cicadas, and tree frogs in the summertime.
Turn your backyard into a bird sanctuary. Set up feeding stations so you will have birds year round. Listen to their beautiful birdsong and learn to identify the ones in your yard.
Stop and smell the roses (or whatever lovely flowers you encounter).
Replenish Your Soul at Home
Your home should be a sanctuary for your soul – a refuge from the rest of the world for you and your family. Here are just a few simple ways to create that sanctuary:
Clear the clutter. Get rid of stuff you no longer need or love.
Light some candles to add warmth and ambiance.
Put on some classical music (or praise and worship or soft jazz) to create a soothing atmosphere.
Rearrange furniture for a cozier (or more
Open up your curtains or blinds and allow the sunlight into your home.
Keep a fresh bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table.
Create art for your walls – there are plenty of tutorials and DIY projects on Pinterest if you don’t feel artsy enough.
Make some new pillows for your sofa/bed/chair – basic sewing skills are all you need.
Keep a fire burning in the fireplace on cold nights to read by.
Add bright (or your favorite soothing) colors and more lighting to your living spaces.
Bring nature indoors – wildflowers, plants, pine cones, beautiful rocks or seashells, even a water fountain.
Allow Your Soul to Breathe
Take yourself (and your family if you’d like) on a cultural outing, field trip or even a weekend getaway to nourish your soul and allow it to breathe.
As humans we are relational by nature. Whether you’re an introvert (like me) or an extrovert, you need people – and they need you. Take time to nurture relationships that satisfy your soul.
Call a friend just to chat.
Write a letter to someone far away (or your husband or child).
Have a Skype coffee date with an old friend you lost touch with over the years.
Join a club (gardening, running, book, photography – whatever your favorite hobby is).
Be generous and giving towards others. Make “random acts of kindness” not so random.
Practice forgiveness. Release and let go of any grudges or unforgiveness you may have towards others. (Remember, you’re only hurting yourself when you refuse to forgive.)
Share “wonder” with a child – they see it everywhere and in everything.
Be silly with your children (or another small child). No need to be so serious all the time. Enjoy your life!
Love on your children – show them affection and let them know how special they are to you.
Love on your husband – let him know he’s the most important person in your life.
Surround yourself people who encourage, support and cheer you on.
Limit your time and interaction with negative people who drain you or bring you down.
Love on your pet. Don’t forget that petting your pooch or cuddling your kitty can reduce stress and anxiety.
Volunteer your time at your local church or community center.
Take the time to thank someone who has made a difference in your life.
Always look for gifts in the people you meet (and don’t forget those already around you). What makes them tick? What lights them up?
Think and speak more positively about yourself. Put a stop to negative self-talk and thoughts.
Your Hopes & Dreams Are Important to Your Soul
Proverbs 13:19 says, “A dream fulfilled is sweet to the soul.” Don’t lose sight of your dreams. They are important to a satisfied soul.
What do you dream of? Have you tossed that dream aside lately? If so, pick it back up and begin to pursue it once again.
Step back and figure out what matters most to you. What is your purpose? Why are you here? Take time out to design your life just the way you want it. Don’t just let life happen to you.
Make a bucket list of dreams you’d like to see fulfilled.
Pick one thing from your bucket list and get started!
Create a Personal Growth Plan
It is essential to your soul that you are continually growing and developing – emotionally, mentally, intellectually, and creatively.
Write out a list of goals for your life. Where do you want to be in one year, five years, ten years, and so on?
Listen to personal growth audiobooks and webinars.
Take a class to learn or improve skills that contribute to your goals and dreams.
Try something new on a regular basis. Do things that scare you. Search out new places and scenery. Always be growing and developing.
If you knew you couldn’t fail, how big would you dream?
We all have dreams and desires for our lives – things we hope to accomplish and aspire to achieve someday. But the sad reality is that many will live and die and never see those dreams fulfilled.
Why? Because it takes more than most are willing to give.
Living your dreams takes courage. It requires you to face your fears and believe that your dream is more important than the feeling of being “afraid.” It takes commitment, dedication, and sacrifice. There will be things you must lay aside in order to accomplish the dream and desires in your heart!
Living your dreams requires good, old-fashioned hard work – blood, sweat and (probably lots of) tears. It involves time and more patience than you think you’ll ever have!
But most of all living your dreams requires financialinvestment. Money is a necessary “tool” to help you accomplish most of your dreams.
Do you dream of being a stay-at-home mom who is able to raise and nurture your own children rather than having someone else raise them? Maybe you would just like to own a home of your own – completely debt free. You may aspire to own your own business or a quaint little shop. Or perhaps you simply want to finish your college degree.
Maybe your heart burns with a passion for the world. You may have an intense longing to adopt orphans from another country and bring them into the love and light of your own home and family. Or your heart may break to be able to help deliver women, girls and boys out of the human trafficking industry. Perhaps you would love to be able to go to third world countries and help with medical missions or disaster relief.
The possibilities are endless!
Whatever your dream is, it will most likely take money to accomplish it.
What is your dream? What is the burning desire of your heart?
Is it bigger than you? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish it?
Part of my ministry is to help others find and fulfill their God-given purpose, and most of the time your purpose has everything to do with those deep desires of your heart and the dreams that just won’t go away.
As a pastor’s wife, I have had so many women share their dreams with me, yet continue to live a frustrated and unfulfilled life because of lack of finances. It breaks my heart because I know many of them will never accomplish what the Lord put in their heart to do.
I don’t know about you, but I have HUGE dreams and desires. My biggest desire is to be able to travel all over the world with my husband and children ministering the love of God and seeing people from every tribe and nation come into His Kingdom.
My husband is able to do this on a limited basis, but he has to work within the confines of a church budget. (Thank God for a church that values souls enough to have this budget!) But the kids and I would love to be able to go with him too.
This is why I am so thankful the Lord opened up the Young Living opportunity to me. It’s not just about essential oils. A woman can have every oil known to mankind, use them for every housekeeping chore, or to improve her family’s overall health, or to fragrance and purify her home, but still be unfulfilled spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
This business not only helps you live a healthier life, it also has the potential of helping you fulfill the dreams and desires of your heart. It gives you a tool (money) to help you live the life you’ve always dreamed of.
With Young Living, not only can you bless your family in the area of wellness, but the income can ultimately help you fulfill your purpose in life. Plus you get to help and bless a lot of people along the way!
Watch this 5-minute video to see if Young Living might be beneficial to you, your family, and many others.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a Young Living Distributor and living the life you’ve always dreamed of, then please contact me here. I would love to help you!
If not, I want to encourage you to take some time today to think about the things minister life, peace and joy to you, then set aside some time to pursue them on a regular basis.
When I speak about the soul, I am not referring to your spirit – the hidden man of the heart that 1 Peter 3:4 talks about – I am actually referring to your mind, emotions, creative center, etc. (If you want more information on the difference between your spirit and soul, then I encourage you to listen to this podcast episode. It will help you distinguish between the two.)
As women we are often pulled in every direction, stretched well beyond our limits, and expected to keep our emotions – and everyone else’s – under control. And that’s not always so easy to do.
But if you can learn to disconnect from the busy-ness and stress of everyday life to invest a few moments in yourself, then you’ll find that you are better able to handle all the craziness that life throws at you.
When you nourish something, you supply it with what is necessary to sustain life and growth.
What fills your soul with life?
Which hobbies, activities, or daily rituals bring you joy or a deep sense of satisfaction? What whispers to you and beckons you to make more time for it in your life? Pay attention to those whispers or gentle nudges to come away and refresh yourself.
I have compiled a list of things that help me nourish my soul. I encourage you to use them as a springboard for nourishing yours.
10 Ways to Nourish Your Soul
1. Make time each day to be alone.
This time for solitude and quietude doesn’t just have to be in the early mornings (though that’s when I prefer mine), grab snatches of “alone time” whenever you can. When you are alone, you are able to think, feel, dream, commune with the Father, and receive His wisdom and guidance. You are able to shut out all other voices and hone in on the voice of your own spirit. If you will learn to do this, you will tap into the inner well of riches that God has placed within you.
2. Take a tea break.
Even on the busiest days it is possible to pull away for a few moments and sit down with a nice hot cup of tea (or coffee, if you must). During this time you can sit quietly and let that lovely beverage warm your body and soul while your mind can wander (if only we women had a “nothing box” like our husbands do)!
3. Read.
Sometimes you just need to let the dishes and laundry wait while you curl up with a good novel. It is important that you read books on spiritual growth and personal development, but I believe that it is also important that you spend time with the “classics” as well. Why? Because classic works of literature will enrich your mind, stir your emotions and passions, fill you with new ideas, and awaken your soul.
4. Write.
Do you have a strong desire to write, to express the deepest thoughts and ideas of your heart through the written word? Are you the type of person who finds it much easier to journal or communicate in writing rather than verbally? Perhaps you have a deep desire to write a book or poetry or worship songs or even start a blog. What is stopping you? Someone needs to hear what you have to say. In fact, you may be the only person who can reach that one person with your heartfelt words. You must find your “voice” and give expression to it.
5. Listen to your favorite music.
Music has a tremendous effect upon the spirit and the soul. Because of its incredible power, it can bring healing, peace, inspiration, joy, hope, and exhilaration on one end of the emotional spectrum. On the opposite end, music can produce sadness, turmoil, fear, aggression and other negative feelings. (I’d encourage you to choose the former rather than the latter.) There is a certain type – and most likely, many types – of music that will resonate with your soul. Think about the kinds of music that minister life to your spirit. Which types of music soothe your soul? Make you feel happy and carefree? Bring back sweet and pleasant memories? Energize or exhilarate you? Feed your soul with your favorite music.
6. Make your own music.
If you are a singer or musician or long to take up music lessons once again then make sure you’re pursuing your gift on a consistent basis. Even if you never learned to play an instrument but have a desire to, then do it! Music is an art like no other. It helps give expression to the deep emotions of the human soul.
7. Be creative.
Tapping into the creativity that is on the inside of you and expressing yourself with something made by your own hands will cultivate and nourish your soul like nothing else can! There are many different areas in which you can use your artistic abilities. I encourage you to find a hobby that you enjoy and pursue it. Carve out a small work space and a block of time each day (or once a week) to create in some form or fashion. Then be fierce about pursuing it on a regular basis – without guilt. This is one of the best things you could do for yourself as a mom.
8. Commune with nature.
Have you ever wondered why the Lord placed Adam and Eve in a garden instead of building them a nice little home in which to dwell? Perhaps it’s because He knew just how much our human souls would need the beauty of His creation. There is nothing like spending time in the great outdoors to put all of life’s problems in perspective. Nature can awaken your soul and stimulate your senses, making you feel more alive. Then on the other hand, it can quiet and still your soul, bringing you immense comfort, tranquility and peace. You need the beauty of the natural world and God has generously given it to you.
9. Create a personal growth plan.
One very important way to nourish your soul is to never stop learning. In fact, I encourage you to develop a “lifestyle of learning.” We mothers are always eager to invest in our children’s education, but it is vitally important that we continue to invest in our own as well. As Christians, we should be continually growing, changing and progressing “from glory to glory.” If we are not moving forward, then we will begin to stagnate. The Bible is all about growth. We are encouraged to grow in wisdom, knowledge, understanding, love, grace, and more. There is always room for improvement in every area of our lives. Cultivate your mind and intellect and your soul will thank you!
10. Create a peaceful atmosphere in your home.
Your home should be a sanctuary for your soul – a haven full of love, laughter, and the peace of God. It should be a refuge from the rest of the world for you and your family, and a place of encouragement and gracious hospitality to others. It should rejuvenate all who live and visit there, and refresh their souls when necessary. Decorate and organize your home in a way that pleases you and your family. Make sure it is filled with beauty, pleasant sounds, delicious aromas, and most of all, love.
***
When the Lord created us, He gave us these amazing souls to allow us to articulate our own uniqueness, to express our innermost passions, to think, to feel, to reason, to imagine, to dream and to grow. By taking time to you nourish your soul, you will be a more satisfied woman, wife and mother. Not only that, it will also affect all other areas of your life!
To expound on any of these areas of nourishing your soul, check out my book, A Life That Flourishes, from which much of this post was excerpted.
I would love to hear what you do to nourish your soul. What things bring rest, refreshment, and a deep sense of satisfaction to you?
This post is part of a link-up with my friends at iHomeschool Network called, “Renewing Myself During Mom Time.” Click on the image below to read more of these inspiring posts.
Are you going through a “drought” in a certain area of you life right now? You may be experiencing a dry season spiritually in which you are desperately searching for a way to get back in right relationship with the Lord. Or perhaps you feel emotionally parched – someone close to you or a difficult situation has drained all your emotional strength and you feel as though you are withering inwardly. Or maybe your finances or various streams of income seem to have all dried up.
If so, then I encourage you to call on the Lord today! He has showers of blessings to bestow upon you:
Ezekiel 34:25-26 (NIV) says, “I will make a covenant of peace with them and…I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.”
This word “shower” in the Hebrew is geshem, which means to “rain violently, pour down in heavy shower,” (Strong’s Concordance).
God wants to rain blessings in your life – and not just a light rain of blessings. He wants to pour down heavy showers of blessings on you!
Have you ever been caught up in a huge downpour of rain? I have many times. In fact, it happened again just this weekend.
My mother and I had scheduled a yard sale for Friday and Saturday. Up until a few days before, there had been very little chance of rain in the forecast. All day Friday the weather was overcast and dark, heavy clouds filled the sky. Every so often, a few light sprinkles would fall and we thought the rain would start, so out would come the tarps to cover all our items. But the rain actually held off all day long and we had quite a successful sale.
Then the rains finally came in Friday evening – and not just light, gentle rains – we’re talking huge downpours all through the night. Our Saturday sale was a total washout. Thankfully, we had covered most of the items so that they stayed dry. But early that morning, after we realized the rain would not relent, we had to pack everything up and get them to warm, dry storage. In.The.Drenching.Soaking.Rain.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love rain. So it didn’t bother me one bit to have to get out there and haul boxes back and forth while it poured. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I was soaked from head to toe. I had rain dripping off the tip of my nose. My clothing was heavy and completely saturated with rain.
And that got me thinking.
God wants to drench, soak and saturate His children with His love, His goodness, His grace, His mercy, and His kindness. He wants us to flood us with blessings!
2 Corinthians 9:8-11 (MSG) says, “God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. This most generous God…is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.”
In the natural, we experience seasons of drought. There are times when the grass and flowers will dry up and wither away because there’s been very little or no rain to water the earth. But no matter how long of a drought we have, eventually the rain will come.
And if we cry out to the Lord and continue to obey and trust Him even in the most difficult circumstances, He will show up in the midst of our drought, just as surely as the arrival of rain, and pour out His blessings upon us!
Hosea 6:3 (NLT) says, “Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
The Lord doesn’t want you to live your life dry, parched and withering. He wants you to experience showers of His blessings in every area of your life.
Deuteronomy 28:2 (AMP) says, “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God.”
In verses 3 through 14 of the same chapter, the Lord gave Israel a huge list of blessings that would come upon them and overtake them if they would obey His commands. In fact, Jesus came to earth, died on the cross, and rose again so that we could live in those same blessings:
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” – Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJ)
Not only does the Lord want His blessings to come upon us, He wants to pour so much on us that we don’t have enough room to receive them all!
And Malachi 3:10 tells us, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house,and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”
The Contemporary English Version of this verse says, “…I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.”
If we are experiencing blessing after blessing, then we are able to turn around and bless those around us, as well as those in other parts of the world who are less fortunate than us. That’s what His blessings are all about – being a blessing to others, showing them the love and goodness of a kind and generous God.
So no matter what area of your life you may be experiencing a drought, I encourage you to call on the Lord, and by faith receive the showers of blessing that He so graciously wants to pour out on you! Believe Him for them no matter what your situation looks like at the present. He will come to you as surely as the rain!
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