Snow Storms

Here in the Northwest we’ve had a relatively mild winter. While the eastern two-thirds of our country has been brutally blasted with cold air and snow blizzards from the north, we’ve been spared. We had a short stint of snow, nothing like those other cities, but still enough to wreak havoc for motorists. Typically, the towns further east into the Gorge have it worse, with I-84 often shutting down for days on end, but on the west end, we’re back to rain. Up higher in the mountains, the ski resorts are excited for the February snows that are falling. They promise to bring more skiers, snowboarders, and tubers to the mountains and to their businesses.

One thing you’ve often heard from friends visiting our area from another part of the country is their amazement that we have so many trees and everything seems so green. Of course, we know it’s because of all that water that drops from the skies around here. Whether it’s the plentiful rain or the melting snowpacks, much stays green.

Were you aware that the Bible is equated to rain and snow? In the book of Isaiah, the prophet said in 55:10-11, “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, 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.”

The prophet understood that rain and snow have a particular benefit. They fall so that the earth can produce abundant harvests. Fruits, grains, legumes and vegetables all owe their existence and growth to the rains and snow. God supplies us with rain for the present and snow for the future.

So back to Isaiah – how exactly does the Bible equate to rain and snow? Your exposure to the Word may serve as rain to water a current need, giving you comfort, courage, hope, or guidance. Or it may serve as snow, intended to water your soul during some future dry period. Now, if reading your Bible sounds daunting or reading isn’t your strong suit, I recommend listening to an audio Bible (the YouVersion Bible App has free audio included).

I’m reminded of another promise God made to the person who delights in the Bible. It is found in Psalm 1, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” God is letting us in on a secret: if we will give attention to His Word every day, He will prosper our lives. Not necessarily in a “prosperity gospel” kind of way with riches and promotions, but with peace and purpose.

If you don’t feel like you have a good understanding of Scripture, I’ve written 18 short lessons to help you. You can download them for free from my website, discipleswords.com. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I want you to experience abundant harvests in your life.

I invite your comments at revmar51@gmail.com.