Your New Future
“Fear not, Earth! Be glad and celebrate!
God has done great things.
Fear not, wild animals!
The fields and meadows are greening up.
The trees are bearing fruit again:
a bumper crop of fig trees and vines!
Children of Zion, celebrate!
Be glad in your God.
He’s giving you a teacher
to train you how to live right—
Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words
to refresh and nourish your soul, just as he used to do.
And plenty of food for your body—silos full of grain,
casks of wine and barrels of olive oil”
(Joel 2:21-24 The Message).
I couldn’t help but share this passage from the book of Joel. I am personally encouraged as God’s prophet exudes a contagious confidence and assurance that invites us to celebrate that God’s promises are true! There is restoration ahead for us as believers, and we can rely on our Father in heaven to act on what He has said.
Joel looks forward to the restoration that God has promised, and he tells Judah to look forward in faith, and to praise God for the restoration He promises - even before they see it with their own eyes. With the eye of faith, Joel can already see it happening. All around him are the lush, fruitful pastures and trees that God has restored after the destruction of the locusts.
After drought and despair, God gives Joel the eye of faith to see God restoring the former and latter rain to Israel. Ancient Israel had no irrigation system, and relied on rain to water their crops. In a time of drought, nothing grew. God promises to restore both the former rain (falling in autumn) and the latter rain (falling in spring). When God restores these rains, Judah will have full threshing floors and wine vats.
I don’t know about you, but there are some dreams in my heart that are in line with God’s promises for my life, and I still haven’t seen them come to pass. And when I let myself fall into fear, and let thoughts of hopelessness drive my life, I am not tapping into the true teacher that God promises to provide for me. The scripture above speaks about the Holy Spirit as a gift to us to train us how to live right, and this teaching will be like rain straight from heaven, waterfalls and showers of words that nourish and refresh our souls. Sometimes it’s just a simple shift that can nullify the lies and get us right back on track when it comes to faith. Faith, being sure of things we haven’t seen and confident that God’s promises are true.
Today is my day to operate in faith, motivated by obedience which is fueled up by love. I refuse to fear, but instead rejoice and celebrate, for God has done great things!
We are in agreement with God’s promises spoken over your life!
With Love and Prayers,
Audrey (for both of us)