So That Times of Refreshing May Come From the Presence of the Lord

It gets hot in the South in the summertime-real hot!

And when you don’t have air conditioning it gives new meaning to hot. We didn’t have air conditioning, but we had a huge and I mean huge, loud, and I mean really loud, window fan. Even with our huge, loud fan, it was cooler on the porch than it was inside the house.

The tall pecan trees that grew on both sides of the front yard shaded the porch, but even with an occasional breeze it was still hot in Mobile, Alabama in the summer! But in the hottest part of summer, we often got afternoon showers. Those showers didn’t last long. No more than a quick down pour and then they were over and gone. Thankfully, those quick showers would cool things off.

I loved to sit on the front porch in those downpours.

The wind would blow the cool rain onto the porch, onto the swing where I always sat and onto me! It was AWESOME! I can still see the chill bumps-do you call them that, on my arms? I remember the shiver- the good shiver from the cold, wet rain that made my curly hair frizzy. The cool rain and breeze was so wonderfully refreshing. I would sit there feeling the rain soaked wind until my mom called me inside or until I was genuinely shivering and rain soaked. You just can’t imagine how good it felt unless you have experienced it!

That’s what happened Sunday! I can’t tell you how it felt. You would have to experience it for yourself. No, I know it’s not July. And no it wasn’t in the old swing, but I felt the rain that penetrated through to my very soul bringing refreshing and strength that was revitalizing. It wasn’t on the porch and it wasn’t the wet kind of rain, but it was the rain and reign of God’s presence.I was tired- both physically and emotionally. The last few weeks have been grueling!

The drizzle began with the first song. God’s presence was so real and as our worship intensified so did His manifest presence. I feel the strain leave my shoulder and in the midst of my praise I thought, “This is so refreshing!” And it was! I felt totally different when I left the service, than I did when I came. You just can’t imagine how good it felt unless you have experienced it!

Acts 3:19b “so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” And that’s what His presence did for me yesterday and can do for you today, His presence brings refreshing! So glad. So thankful.

Life can get hot! Stress can leave us frazzled and drained, so God made provision for your refreshing. That refreshing is found in His presence.

Thank you, Father for those times of refreshing! Thank you worship team and leaders. Thank you Pastor Jimmy Wilder for welcoming and making room for God’s presence.

Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,