The latter rain is not permission to coast

Ask for More Rain

Zechariah 10:1

"Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone."

In this passage, we see an ordained cycle of blessing called the latter rain. This was God's established pattern from the beginning. The latter rain became the source of the people's survival, success, and abundance. It was expected. It was a normal part of life.

But this verse tells us to go beyond expected blessings.

We all go through seasons, and every season carries its own blessings. The Lord is declaring to us that in this season of the latter rain, we are not to become content with what we consider "normal" levels of blessing.

Be grateful. Be thankful. Gratitude is essential to maintaining a pure heart. Without it, we run the danger of asking from selfish motives instead of a heart surrendered to Him.

But to those who are grateful for what He has already done, the Lord is saying:

"Ask for more."

I am deeply grateful for the latter rain in my life right now.

But I can have more.

He wants me to have more.

He wants you to have more.

The caveat is this: we are commanded to ask.

The increase is not automatic.

The act of asking—even while living in blessing—is a form of high worship. When we ask, we acknowledge that He is omnipotent, the overflowing fountain of everything we could ever need. His riches are unfathomable and beyond measure.

We move beyond simply believing He can, and step into believing He is willing—He greatly desires to bless His children.

Even in the middle of the latter rain, He says,

"Ask Me for more rain."

Who wants to take God up on His extravagant generosity?

Jesus said He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). He wants us to life but to experience it more than one would normally expect or anticipate. 

Then the Lord gives another promise:

"The LORD will make flashing clouds."

Flashing clouds are a feature of heavy rain. They speak of lightning. The Hebraic root carries the idea of seeing or perceiving. It is supernatural perception, a light piercing through darkness so we can see beyond what is visible in the natural.

When we ask for more, He not only increases the rain, He increases our vision.

This is a now opportunity.

As He pours out greater blessing, He also releases greater perception. He enables us to see what He is doing before it fully appears, giving us vision for what is not yet seen.

The Lord is saying, "Don't stop asking because you've started receiving. The rain you've seen is not the fullness of what I have for you. Ask again. Believe again. Expect again. As I increase the rain, I will increase your vision so you can see what I am about to do before it appears."