Lessons from a Scarecrow – Watering

Isaiah 55:9-11 (NIV)

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

    It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

So I have a question for you.  Have you ever stood out in a rain storm?  The other day I was minding my own business watching over the garden and the skies opened up and wow did the rain come down. From my calculations we got a little under 2 inches of rain.  The garden sure seemed to like all fresh water.

Water is the most important thing we have been given by God to support our life system.  We can go many days without food and live, but without water, we will be dead in a few short days.  Water is a key element in growing a garden.  Both seeds and plants need adequate moisture to grow.  Seeds cannot germinate unless their hard outer shells are softened by the moist soil.  So too, our hearts can become hardened without having communion with the Spirit of God.  Jesus promised that when we receive the Holy Spirit, it would like rivers of living water:

Rainwater is the best way to water a garden (and it keeps your water bill down too!).  God, in His infinite wisdom, knows how to send rain in proper proportion to each stage of growth for the plants.  One must be faithful to properly prepare the garden, so that the rain God sends will be beneficial to the plants.  For example, plants such as squash and cucumbers, it is best to plant the seed on a small mound, encircled by a round trough to keep the moisture in.

When we are obedient to God, loving Him with all of our hearts, and preparing ourselves by serving Him in obedience, making the soil of our heart ready, God sends the rain of His Spirit in it’s seasons.  By preparing the soil of our hearts through active and daily prayer, like my water troughs, our hearts are both receptive to receiving God’s spirit when He pours down on us, and we are able to contain more of what He sends.

Without water, plants will die.  Once I delayed to water my garden during a particular hot day.  When I finally went to water the plants, some were drooping and fatigued.  This reminds me of when we go without prayer and fellowship with other believers.  It is like the saying, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.”  Also, sin and disobedience takes us out of fellowship with God’s Spirit, and He withholds Himself so that we might hunger and thirst after righteousness again:

What will you do?  Will you keep your garden watered with prayer and communion with God?  Will you be satisfied with a droopy spirit, or press on to know the Lord?  It is a matter of life or death, for no one can live without the rain of the Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord, we thank You for the rain that You rain down upon each of us to refresh and strengthen us. Help our hearts always look toward You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.