Devotion 9/27, Showers of blessings

Rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Joel 2:23

The people of Judah had been unrepentant toward God. An army of locust had destroyed their crops and enemy nations had marched on them devastating their land. Earlier in this chapter the Lord asks them to render their hearts and return to Him so that they may experience His great compassion, grace, and caring again. God will take pity on His people (vs. 18), and drive their enemies far from them (vs.20). It is easy for us to cast judgement on Judah for their disobedience. But this is just as appropriate for us today. While we may not actually be devastated by locusts, an unrepentant, disobedient heart toward God will have devastating effects upon our life. God loves a humble and a contrite heart (Isaiah 57:15), and we will be abundantly blessed. Turn our hearts from arrogance and rebellion, and rendering or submitting our hearts to God is what He desires from each of us.
From the very beginning of time, God has wanted the heart of mankind. That is why He created us with a free will, instead of just making us robots who had to worship and obey Him. He wanted us to choose to follow Him because of our love for Him.
Just as we love the special smell that comes with a drought breaking rain, God loves the aroma of his children’s joy, especially when He is the source of its delight!

Father God, I love You so and I thank You for loving me. Help me to live my life in ways that are pleasing to You and that I show my love and commitment to You. I thank you for the many blessings you continue to shower upon me and I pray for strength of character and heart, that I live my life for You, always. Make me an instrument of your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

I pray of His showers blessings for you today. Render your hearts to the Lord. Lift our Lord up in prayer, He wants to shower you with His grace, love and blessings as a child of God!