For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God. (Heb. 6:7)

Last summer we had a three month period with almost no rain. The ground became dry and hard. When the rain finally came, even the soft dusty soil could not absorb the first drops; they sat in tiny craters and evaporated. Areas that I had regularly walked over were hard pans that collected water in pools.

God’s unexpected work in our lives is seasonal like the rain and our lives can be like the parched ground – desperate, but struggling to receive what He is doing.

When we recognize that God is speaking to us or moving in our lives, we must know how to respond. What makes absorbing His “rain” difficult? How can we absorb what He is doing?

One of the biggest challenges is the hectic “traffic” that pounds through our lives. When God says or does something, we grab it with joy for a moment, but unless it soaks into our thoughts and actions, it can vaporize in our busyness.

The first drops of God’s activity are most important because, if they soak in, they soften our hearts for more. That is why God often does His work in stages.

There are a few simple guidelines for responding to God. First, write down what He says. Then set aside time to reflect prayerfully on His words. See where that leads: Scriptures that take you further, people you should ask for prayer or counsel, action steps to apply to your schedule and relationships. If He is changing something on the inside, He probably plans for it to show on the outside. Finally, ask Him to continue and complete what He has begun—and expect more rain.

In the next two or three weeks I will be posting some thoughts about worship. I pray they will deepen your own experience of worship.