When there is thunder with no rain

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.
Protect me for I am devoted to you.
Save me, for I serve you and trust you
You are my God.
Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.
Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you.
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry.
I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me…

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever, for you love for me is very great.
You have rescued me form the depths of death.
– Psalm 86:1-7,11-3

O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day.
I come to you at night.
Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry…
Each day I beg for your help, O Lord;
I lift my hands to you for mercy.
– Psalm 88:1-2,9b

When we sincerely cry out to God, He hears our prayers. More than that, He answers them. Are you asking God for something big right now? Can you relate to the prayer of the psalmist? Is the burden heavy? Can you hear the thunder but you cannot feel the rain? If so, listen to what God is saying. Listen to what He is doing in response to your prayers.

“Now I will take the load from your shoulders;
I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.
You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you;
I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah.”
– Psalm 81:6-7

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him
. – Psalm 91:1-2

HE WILL RESCUE YOU from every trap and
PROTECT YOU from deadly disease.
HE WILL COVER YOU with his feathers.
HE WILL SHELTER YOU with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection
(91:3-4).

If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels to protect you where you go.
They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone
(91:9-12).

The Lord says, “I WILL RESCUE those who love me.
I WILL PROTECT those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I WILL ANSWER;
I WILL BE WITH THEM in trouble.
I WILL RESCUE and HONOR them.
I WILL REWARD them with a long life and
GIVE THEM MY SALVATION.”
– Psalm 91:14-16

Lord, we claim these promises this morning. We praise you for your faithfulness and ALL you do for us. When the thunderclouds appear above us and we experience a shortage of what we think we need, we will remember your promises to rescue, protect, honor, and reward us. We will trust that you are with us and feel your wings of shelter around us. With all our hearts we will praise you, O Lord our God!