January 29th, 2021

Hosea 6:1-3 “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.  After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.  Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

The Big Picture

A pastor that I have followed for many years listening to his clear, biblical teaching tweeted (I can’t believe I’m typing that) this about Hosea 6:1-3.  “Doubt can become faith.  Discouragement  can become joy.  Despair can become purpose.  Defeat can become victory when we return to the Lord.”

These are words of revival and renewal.  It may be that 2020 was a very difficult year for you and then to top it off, it was a grind spiritually.  Hosea 6 reminds us that after a trial or after a test, God comes to us like the spring rains (verses 4-6).  Who doesn’t like the first spring rain?!  It cleans everything up.  It smells fresh and it makes all things come to life that were dormant.  What a picture for us.  Whatever trial or have faced or may be facing, there is rest and renewal on the other side.  We can rest in the promises of God even when life is hard.

How To Pray

• If you or someone you know is in the midst of a really difficult time, pray that God would meet you/them in the struggle and bring rest.

• Pray 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 believing the truth of those verses and thanking God for what is ultimately to come.

• Pray for revival in your own life, in the life of our church and in our community. Ask God to do abundantly above all that we could ask or even think!