R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - Super Bloom

This week in my news feed, there was an interesting article on what is called "Super Bloom" in Death Valley.  Death Valley is the hottest and driest place on the North American continent. I wonder what the pioneers must have thought after coming through the lush green states like Colorado and Utah to find themselves in this dry desert place. This year, this barren basin is covered in colorful flowers that have covered the hillsides.  This phenomenon is due to the rainfall in the month of October. The last time this occurred was in 2005.

Have you ever felt as though you were in a drought spiritually? Spiritual drought happens when we begin to doubt. When we start to doubt, the high pressure of life holds back the reign of God's presence and the fire of lies begins to burn up the pastures of hope.  Joel 1:19 & 20 says "To you, O Lord I call, for the fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. 20 Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures." 

For those of us living in California, we know what it is to conserve water and prepare for fire season. I kind of feel like the Church is living like this too.  We want God's Holy Spirit to come and flood our gatherings, but because we feel like we are living in a drought we are conserving what is inside of us and not allowing it flow out of us.  I think this is why church can become more ritualistic than fresh. 

It's time for a Super Bloom in the church! With the current condition of our world and country, it is time for us to believe for a super natural reign of the Holy Spirit to pour on our drought stricken hearts! This portion of scripture in Joel 2 is speaking of hope to God's people of restoration "Don’t be afraid, O land. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things. ²² Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more. ²³ Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring."

The spiritual weather forecast shows the reign is coming. In Acts 2, Peter quoted this portion of scripture from Joel 2. It says "‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.  Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸ In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. ¹⁹ And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. ²⁰ The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. ²¹ But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Acts 2:17-21 & Joel 2:28-31) That day, in Jerusalem, the reign of the God's spirit down poured when, all the people believed (one accord). There was a mighty wind that rained down flames of fire onto their heads, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke in other tongues. (Acts 2:2-4)


That forecast is still for the Church today. It's time we got over our theological differences and just believe that the Holy Spirit can rule and reign today. We can have a fresh reign of God every time we gather. I think the picture of the color in Death Valley is a visual picture of what it looks like when we pray in the Spirit. It's beautiful and breathtaking. It's fragrance over powers the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12) It's the reign that brings healing and hope to a dying world. It is time for the reign of the Holy Spirit to bring a season of "Super Bloom" in the Church!

(Here is the link to a song that is written from Joel 2/Acts 2. "Pour Yourself On Me" (copy and paste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4iQpFwA_HM)