Raining love?: Devotions from the Road of Life

“The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.” Deuteronomy 28: 12, King James Version

The rain pours right now, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling in a full-out Southern thunderstorm. The results of the rain will be growth and blossoming for the plants, nourishment for livestock and replenishment for rivers, streams and reservoirs. The temperature drops a few degrees, a pleasant change on a hot August day.

As heaven pours out its gift of life-giving water, I can’t help but wonder what I pour out on those around me. Am I covering others in God’s love, refreshing them with a reminder of his ever-present care? Or am I spilling out anger and vitriol, doing more of Satan’s work than the Lord’s?

How easily I find myself falling into that particular ugly puddle of wickedness! If I take my eyes off the King, how quickly the world jumps up to fill my vision. He has promised His nourishing rain, but too often I put up an umbrella and divert His love. I must make a concentrated effort to focus on His will and His work if I am to spread His love.

What are you spreading to those around you? Do you rain love or anger, encouragement or destruction? 

Father, I thank You for the blessing of rain to replenish, refresh and nourish the world. Help me to be Your rain to others, spreading Your love to all I encounter. Amen.

What are you studying? (Number 22 in a series)

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (KJV)


On my cross-country drive, I played a series of CDs: my favorite gospel albums and a couple of sermons on CD given to me by a coworker. They were a tremendous encouragement when I had to drive through three day of rain with a good portion of my worldly possessions stacked on top of the car. The fourth day I was out of the rain, but had to deal with an interlude of sleet. Through it all, I was accompanied by praise and worship. I was reminded I wasn’t facing the situation alone.

When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he offered them verbal “pats on the back” and exhorted them to focus on the good and true things, not the evil and false. This strikes me as a very wise counsel for us today, as well.

What are you studying? Where are you focused? Those are the things that will color your thinking and your actions. Are you studying God’s Word or a gossip magazine? Do you listen to music that uplifts you or does it fill you with angry images? Is your time spent in positive pursuits or wasted in pointless activities?

We live in a world where many people will do almost anything in their pursuit of fame or wealth. There are game shows requiring people to win, not by playing more skillfully but by destroying the efforts of other players. Insults are the expected conversational tool. Other programs offer participants the opportunity to take physical risks, or be subjected to humiliating scenarios in hope of gain.

Much of the music today deals with unsavory language and situations. Marital infidelity, abusive treatment, drug use, promiscuous sexual relations – all of these and more are fodder for the music mill.

These sorts of “entertainment” don’t come under the heading of “good” or “true” or “virtue.” If we spend our time immersed in such things, we risk a jaundiced view of our fellow humans. Where is your focus? What are you feeding your heart and mind?

Father, thank you for encouraging words and uplifting music to keep us focused on You. Help us to think on things honoring You and to shun the things which cloud our minds. Keep our minds focused on what is pleasing to You.

© 2009 Mary Beth Magee