Prayer for April

Father, thank You for the physics and geometry of rain. The dailyness and faithfulness of Your principles of creation. That You speak through everything, everything.

Thank You for water, that the soil might store up moisture and become rich for spring plantings. May the land we walk grow lush and green, not parched and dangerous to life. 

I pray those who need the rain will cheer and welcome it, even rush out and stomp in it, toss umbrellas aside and raise their faces to it. 

I pray those who don't need any more of it will be spared, that You will calm the storm, let the rising waters ebb, sweep the clouds away and make Your sun shine on them. 

I pray those who are saddened by it will not see weeping as much as they see freshening and the final banishment of snow. I pray those who have no shelter from it will receive such shelter from You--knowing that it does come from You even if through human effort, provision, or circumstance--to their joy and great surprise and to Your glory and praise. 

Let April be a month of hope for many, in many different ways. A time when death loses its grip. When new breezes stir. When relationships mend and deep healing happens and the promises of God overtake the lies of the enemy. When paths that have looked figuratively or literally muddy become, if not flawless, clear. 

In April, as we are encouraged by nature's newness, let us not settle for same-same in our lives, as if just trudging along, putting one foot in front of the other, living in ruts because they're familiar instead of asking if You have change in store for us. In this new season, what remains or stays the same for us, and what pivots or drops or opens? Give us insight, and willingness to follow where you lead. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear, and may what we see and hear be Jesus. Amen.