Barren Land

When God teaches me something, He likes to give me bits and pieces through many different sources. This is true of the following:

Two weekends ago, I was riding home from Roxboro and I popped in the Shane and Shane CD. The first song Barren Land came on and God spoke something to my spirit through that song. I wasnt sure what He was trying to teach me at the time, but I tucked it away in my mind. I didnt really share it with anyone, but since that day the word "Barren" has been randomly showing up in my devos, in my conversations with people, in emails, and even in meetings. Some Verses that have come through the different avenues are Galatians 4:27, Isaiah 54, Ps. 29:8, Ps. 63, I Samuel 1. One thing that was said at our regional Kingsway Leaders meeting was, the roots of a plant in a barren land will go down deeper looking for water (that's a paraphrase.) I was talking to a friend the next Tuesday, and God had been speaking some of the same things to Him.

I still dont know all that God is teaching me through this, but these are some of the things that God has been speaking... Press into God. Thirst will increace. At times we may be in a barren land, but it IS those times that we should press into HIM more through the Word, talking to HIM, and listening. Through that pressing our roots will go deeper and we will be more grounded in the Lord. Our passion will grow. Sometimes, as it was with Hannah in I Samuel, it means crying out to God in our sorrow, and pouring our soul out to HIM. God is merciful and kind and worthy to be praised. He will send that 'rain' that will 'cover, heal, and uncontrolablely fill.' Fruit will come from being fed by the rain of God!

Ps 63:1-3
O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee

Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.


I Samuel 1:15
And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I [am] a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

Isaiah 54:1-2
Sing, O barren, thou [that] didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou [that] didst not travail with child: for more [are] the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;


Barren Land
Shane Barnard
barren land can overflow with
life and fruit and fields that grow
in the barren land with labor and toil
planting seed and tilling soil
will stay the same, stay the same

but if for rain! but if for rain!
but if for rain to fall, irresistibly call
rain to cover me
but if for rain to heal, uncontrollably fill
the soil of eternity

and barren land will overflow with
life and fruit and fields that grow

Holy Spirit spur me to till
a once barren land so thirsty still
for living water, O God, sustains
so life and fruit and fields remain
lest they stay the same, stay the same