This is the time of year when religious people in the land begin to ask God for a rainy winter. It is not a matter of politics, not a matter of where we pray or what denomination we belong to. We all turn to God for rain.
Actually, prayer for rain can be a confusing subject. The passage quoted does not tell us to ask for rain. It only says that the amount of rain we get depends on our obedience to God's commands. However, there is one place where God did instruct the people to ask him for rain in its season. "Ask the Lord for rain in the spring of the year. It is the Lord who sends rain clouds and showers, making the fields green for everyone." (Zechariah 10:1)
When the rain does come, it is a reminder of God's merciful character. Jesus commanded us to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil." (Matthew 5:44-45).
So, while our obedience or disobedience can cause there to be more or less rain, God remains always a God of mercy. He loves the land, and we can ask him to send rain to water it. But when the rain comes, it does not tell us whether we are good or bad people. In fact, we do not ask for rain (or any other blessing) because we deserve it. We ask only because he has told us to and because he is merciful.
- 1 OCTOBER -