When Faith and I moved to Bakersfield, California, we had no idea it was so hot here…or so dry. The second realization came after the first. The heat was very observable. Just this week, we will have several plus 100 degree days.

The absence of moisture was harder to detect, because everywhere one looks, there are green and lush vegetation. The central valley of California is the fruit basket of the nation.

But we’re in a drought.

The irony of our dry situation is that 100 years ago, folks from Arkansas and Oklahoma migrated here for a better life. They were leaving the dust bowl of the plains behind.

People follow water. Water is necessary for life.

Right now, thousands of acres are burning 300 miles north of Bakersfield. The effects of those fires are traveling south into the valley. There are so many forest fires in the west, that it referred to as “fire season.” Most of the states out west are in severe drought.

We must pray for rain.

Do you mean spiritual rain or literal rain? Yes.

One of the criticisms of the followers of Yaweh was that they were worshiping Him for better crops, better living conditions, and all of their faith was simplistic superstition, and not based in fact.

Modern man has accepted this notion. We’ve discovered how to irrigate, and therefore we don’t need to pray for rain. Man will provide.

In Zechariah 10, these words are written: “ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain. Grass in the field for everyone. “

General George Patton was certainly not a paragon of faith, however, He believed that people of faith actually had a connection with God. He ordered his chaplain to pray for rain, so that the enemy could not advance. The rains came, and the story is told that the General gave the chaplain a commendation.

That story may sound fantastic, but the scriptural call is there for us to see. With God, there is no difference between Him blessing us with what we desperately need; rain to fall upon our drought-ridden land, and for His Holy Spirit to fall upon our drought-ridden hearts!

Pray for Rain! It isn’t just a bumper sticker, or a refrigerator slogan. Ask any of your neighbors, friends, politicians, or fire fighters, “do you think we need more rain?”

Zechariah essentially is saying, “pray for rain when its rainy.” That’s odd, and almost seems contradictory. Shouldn’t we be praying for rain, when we’re in a drought? Yes to both. You see, in other parts of our country right now, its raining, raining, raining.

We can see that and begin to pray, “just like its raining right now over there, so let it rain over here.” We can perceive that and pray it in the spirit as well. “Lord, I see what You are doing over there in that area; setting people free, filling them with Your Holy Spirit, mending relationships, driving devils out; over there, do it here, Lord.”

Let it rain. And when we feel the rain falling, keep praying for more rain.

There is a scripture that reads that He makes it rain on the just and the unjust. We tend to look at that scripture in a negative tone; like a rainy, dreary day. “Well, everyone has a rainy day now and then” kind of attitude.

From God’s perspective, rain only meant judgment one time. Ever since that time, (after the flood), rain means blessing.

“Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need. Mercy drops ’round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.”

Let it rain!