Hear and Grow

Isa 55:10,11 (Amp) - “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, making it bear and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me void (useless, without result), without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

God begins this prophesy chapter by inviting the thirsty and hungry to come and feast at His table without having to pay. In verses 3 and 4, He implores the people to listen and hear and then obey His commands. He invites them to seek and to call on Him. And then God equates the power of the Word of God and its influence on our daily lives to the rain and snow that falls and waters the earth - it results in producing life, growth and fruit.

During the time of our fast, our ears get fine-tuned to the heart of God and we can hear Him speak to us clearly - because many of the distractions of the world are set aside. Oh, how do we desire this for all times!

God says that His Word goes forth, it nourishes our spirit, it rekindles the fire of love for Jesus, it purifies our soul as it refines our deeds, thoughts and attitudes. This is what God desires to accomplish.

Peter wrote about this change in 1 Pet 2:24 “...so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness;...” In this way we continue to change and grow until the time of our glorification.

The effects of the rain and snow are for the people around us: the sower gets seed to sow and the hungry gets bread. The growth and fruitfulness that comes from God’s Word can never just be about me – I have to consider how others can benefit and how they can grow and produce the fruit God has prepared for them, as they witness our lives.

Prayer: Lord, I seek Your face, I call out to You and I thank You for refining my life.

This post courtesy of Lida Gous