Umbrella or Funnel?

Rain, rain, rain...go away. Come again another day. Widespread rain has touched our land and it seems it hasn’t wanted to let up. I was thinking how thankful I am that I don’t live on the west coast. I imagine the umbrella sales have gone up in our region. Thinking about umbrellas, as a kid I was enamoured with them. My aunt gave me one when I was about 10 (she lives on the west coast, of course). I actually still have it; haven’t had to use it much in my neck of the woods. Umbrellas have one job to do. They block the rain from touching you. In the physical world we live in, that is a good thing. Flat hair and wet clothes aren’t fun. However, in the spiritual world we also live in, having an umbrella up, so to speak, is not a good thing. It blocks the blessings of God that He is trying to rain on you. What happens in our physical world gives indication of what is happening in the spiritual world. These rains, even flooding, are heavenly signs that God wants to pour out His rain of blessings on our land and on our lives. Only problem is that the condition of our hearts determines what we will receive. Instead of umbrellas, we need to hold up our funnels. What umbrellas do, funnels do the opposite. Funnels receive the rain. God wants to pour out His goodness, His blessing, His love on us but we’ve been blocking them; blocking them with hard hearts, cynicism, hurts, unbelief, unforgiveness, greed, fear, suspicion; the list could go on... Yet, the Bible says God is a good God. He longs to pour out His blessing on our lives. “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Maybe you’ve tried to receive but your funnels have seemed to be clogged or blocked up. Today, I declare that your funnel will be opened up to receive! Can I pray for you? “Father, I declare that my friends will have their “expectors” up and be ready to receive what you want to pour out onto them. I pray that as they read these words, that You will ignite in them a passion to run after you, with their funnels open, asking You to pour into their lives. Proverbs 10 says that ‘the heart of the wise will easily accept instruction.’ So Father, I thank you that these dear readers have wise hearts; that they will easily accept godly instruction. I thank You that, although they may have hurts and things have happened in the past that may have blocked Your goodness, I pray right now that they will be able to walk past the past and be open to receive what You have for them. I release a spirit of heavenly insight and revelation into their spirits and declare that today is a new day. A fresh start...The first day of replacing their umbrella with a funnel and are willing to receive from You. Give them a knowing deep inside that You are with them and will walk with them in every step of the journey. Let it rain, Lord. Let Your love rain into the dry crevices of our hearts and change us forever. AMEN!” “For there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” “I thank my God every time I remember you. In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Scripture references: Psalm 100:5, 1 Kings 18:41, Philippians 1:3-6