Rain In The Desert

[Day 1]
“Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with JOY.”
—Ezra 6:16

Do you know what it feels like to be exiled from a place, a person or a people?
If God brought you back after many hardships you would know the same JOY that the people of Israel felt when they returned to their land of promise! It stood out to me that just like David was little compared to Goliath, Israel is little compared to some of the enemies she has had. Yet, God, the Almighty One, is not only BIGGER than ALL the enemies put together, He is able to triumph over every single one of them!
Hannah rejoiced when God opened her womb and closed the mouth of her rival! See 1 Samuel 1 for her story. Our prayer may not be the same as Hannah’s, but when something is impossible for us without God’s help, it is an opportunity for His greatness to become visible!
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like your enemies or lack or sickness would engulf you? Maybe you are there right now. Look up! He hasn’t left and you won’t be where you are forever! God can turn our hurt into greatness if we give it all to Him!
So…LOOK UP and BELIEVE! Say yes to the Spirit of JOY now! The wilderness and the wastelands aren’t forever, but God is! Even your own sins you’ve been guilty of are not bigger than God! God wants us restored, not destroyed.

Let’s pray:
Lord, help us to keep our eyes on you and our hearts in your hands. Remind us of the times and the ways you have shown yourself faithful to us. You are more trustworthy than we even know! Help us to remember that the outcome of our lives was never about our cleverness or our size in relation to our challenges or opposition. It’s always been about your size compared to our giants! For this we praise and thank you! —Amen

Take Away Thought:
Recall a time when God brought you out of something difficult or restored you from sin or sickness. Give Him thanks for it and then share the story with at least one other person.

Day 2]
“…then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God's face and shout for JOY; he will restore them to full well-being.”
—Job 33:26

God is faithful! The above passage is spoken by one of Job’s youngest friends in the part of his story where they have been challenging him that what he has been going through must be his fault and that God must be angry with him.
God does call them out later, on the fact that they had judged the situation with Job wrongly. However, the thing Job’s friend says about praying to God and God restoring a person to right standing with Him, in the right context, is actually correct!
For anyone who has, at times, gotten something incredibly wrong and fallen into sin, or who has gone through some hardship that seemed immensely unfair…you know what it feels like to get right with God again or be restored from injustice! There’s no greater JOY than right standing with God!
One more thing I would like to add is that what Job’s friend said to him…HAPPENED! Not only was Job restored by God from Satan’s attacks, but God told Job to forgive and pray for his friends, then He [God] would forgive and restore them…to right standing with Himself! Job’s story just goes to show…things are not always the way they appear on the surface!

Let’s pray:
Lord, teach us to hear your voice the loudest and look for you wherever we go! Help us to follow your lead in dealing with others. Also, help us to look for you no matter where we are and no matter what we are doing. Help us to forgive when others get it wrong, and help us to ask forgiveness when we are the ones in the wrong! –Amen

Take Away Thought:
Is there a time recently that you can think of where someone wrongly accused you? Have you forgiven them and prayed for them? How can you repay evil with good and show them a kindness?
Also, is there a time recently where you were the one in the wrong with someone else? What can you do this week to make that right?
[Day 3]
“Fill my heart with JOY when their grain and new wine abound.”
—Psalm 4:7

Have you ever had moments where you had a flood of JOY in spite of your circumstances, BECAUSE you know God is real and you belong to Him? That’s the best JOY! I don’t believe God wants us to only suffer, but I do believe He wants to BE our greatest source of JOY!
Ask God to show Himself to you apart from what people can take credit for. I have, and He did! Now, I challenge you, because what you are really asking is for Him to come closer, like Moses when he said, “Show me your glory!”

Let’s pray:
Lord, show us your glory! May your praises ever be in our hearts and on our tongues! We thank you for loving us so much! –Amen

Take Away Thought:
Get a few friends together and share some stories of times God has given you great JOY. Make collages that reflect these stories or do an activity to bring someone else JOY in celebration of these memories!