The Lord showed me that there are many people crying out to Him to ‘Send The Rain’. I saw many people of God in a drought season in areas of their life and they were crying out to God in prayer for Him to ‘send the rain’. They were crying out for an abundance of rain to break the drought. I saw some had been in drought for a long time. The Lord then showed me that not only were individuals crying out to Him to send the rain to break their situation but there were also masses of people in nations around the world crying out to God to send the rain on their nation. They were praying for the Lord to send the rain which was a move of the Spirit to their nation to bring transformation of the land. The people of God were praying for His rain to fall individually and corporately.

 

The Lord then highlighted Elijah to me and his prayer for rain to break the drought in the land. God tells Elijah He’s going to send rain on the earth and break the drought in the land. Elijah goes up to the mountain to pray for rain. Each time after he prays, he sends his servant out to check for rain. Only on the seventh time the servant sees a small cloud rising out of the sea. Then the sky turns dark and heavy rain comes.

 

1 Kings 18:41-45 (NKJV) – Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’” Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

 

There were four points the Lord highlighted to me with regard to this story of Elijah and these points are relevant to us today –

• Elijah was persistent in prayer

Elijah stood in prayer on the word God gave him and he persisted until he saw it come to pass. Elijah prayed fervently until he saw an answer. He prayed until he saw breakthrough. The Lord wants us to pray fervently for the promises He has given us to come to pass. He wants us to be thankful in advance for the promise we know is coming as we know God is faithful to fulfill the promise. Your faith increases, and your hope abounds, as you focus on the promise, instead of your circumstances. Colossians 4:2 (NKJV) – Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. James 5:16b (NKJV) – the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

• Elijah prayed with boldness and in line with the word of God

Elijah petitioned God for rain, and not a little rain, but enough rain to break the drought. When our prayers are in line with God’s will we can be confident He has answered our prayer. 1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) – Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

 

The promises of God in the bible cover all areas of our lives. God wants us to speak out His word over situations in our life and when we do we see God move and transform that area of our life for His glory and our good. We can claim God’s promises as our own. Find a promise in God’s word that meets your need. The Lord wants us to realise the power of our words, particularly when our words are in line with His promises. The promises of God open the door to a faith that prays with great assurance and boldness. Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) – Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. In Psalm 103:20 it is written that the angels do His word and heed the voice of His word. When we speak and pray in agreement with the word of God, the angels are listening to put in place what we are believing for, according to the word of God. God’s word will accomplish His desires and purposes. Faith builds as you speak God’s word over a situation where you are believing God for an answer. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) – Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) – It is the same with My word, I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

 

We are also to wage war over the words and promises the Lord gives us. 1 Timothy 1:18 (NKJV) – This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.

• Elijah prayed in faith

Elijah prayed expecting an answer as he knew God was faithful to bring to pass the promise He had spoken on breaking the drought. Elijah says to Ahab, “there is the sound of an abundance of rain.” He says this even before he prays or sees the cloud appear as he has faith that God will bring His word to pass. The Lord wants us to trust Him and believe the promises He has given us. He wants us to hold onto the promises, declaring them by faith, regardless of what we see around us. Usually, before we see the promise come to pass that we’re claiming, we will have to go through a period of patiently waiting on God and standing in faith. Patience becomes an active participant in partnering with the promise. While patience often includes the posture of waiting, it is more about the position of our hearts being at rest in the midst of the waiting process. It comes down to a position of trusting the Lord to do something for us that is far greater than we could do for ourselves. Hebrews 6:12 (NKJV) – Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

• Elijah was ready and positioned for the rain

When Elijah saw the small cloud rising out of the sea, he knew that God had heard his prayer and was bringing heavy rain. Elijah tells Ahab to prepare the chariot and leave before the rain stops him as he knew heavy rain was coming. The Lord is calling us to position ourselves for the promise and blessing. He is calling us to take action when we are prompted by the Holy Spirit. Faith needs to work with obedience and action. God determines when the promise will be fulfilled as it occurs in His perfect time but we are still to position ourselves and live in expectancy of the promise.

 

What this means for us –

 

Many have received words and promises from the Lord individually and also for their nations on the ‘rain’ or move of God that is coming to break the drought and bring transformation. The Lord is calling His people to persist in praying for Him to ‘send the rain’. Persist in praying for your situation. Persist in praying for your nation. He is reminding us to pray with boldness for the abundance of rain to break the drought. We can pray with boldness when we are praying in line with His word and His promises. The Lord wants us to stand in faith for the promises and wait on Him knowing He is faithful to fulfill His promise. Lastly the Lord is inviting us to position ourselves for the coming rain. Step out in obedience on the leading of the Holy Spirit and partner with God to see His plan fulfilled.

Lord send the rain!