Zechariah prophesied of the future prosperity and deliverance of God’s people. Much of this was tied to the coming of Christ (the Messiah). Despite the oppression from outside forces, they could look forward to peace.<\/p>\n
Regarding His plan to bless them, God said, “Ask rain\u00a0from the Lord at the time of the spring rain the Lord who makes the storm clouds; and He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field of each man<\/em>” (Zechariah 10:1). They would enjoy the physical blessings of this life that God was able to provide. However, it is interesting to note when God said they were to offer this prayer – “at the time of the spring rain<\/em>.” This was not about asking for a miracle but recognizing their dependence upon God and His provisions.<\/p>\n We know that God has the power to do more than we can imagine. Paul said He is “able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think<\/em>” (Ephesians 3:20). Yet, we should not expect God to perform a miracle every time we pray. Instead, we need to trust in God and what He has promised to provide.<\/p>\n So pray at the proper time. Our faith in God should not depend on Him performing the miraculous to satisfy our needs whenever we desire. Instead, we need to be thankful for the blessings He has provided and pray that His kindness to us might continue to manifest.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 5, No. 1, January-March 2025 Zechariah prophesied of the future prosperity and deliverance of God’s people. Much of this was tied to the coming of Christ (the Messiah). Despite the oppression from outside forces, they could look forward to peace. Regarding His plan to bless them, God said,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1510],"class_list":["post-82758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-prayers"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":26732,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/run-through-the-rain\/","url_meta":{"origin":82758,"position":0},"title":"Run Through the Rain","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Author Unknown Oldest copy found was dated 2010 by Anonymous A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Walmart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red-haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/girl-runing-through-a-puddle-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":57331,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/inconvenient-truths\/","url_meta":{"origin":82758,"position":1},"title":"Inconvenient Truths","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 26, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Steve Klein The United Nations Conference on climate change concluded in December 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Leaders from 193 nations have been attempting to reach an agreement on international policies to combat global warming. Outside the conference center, thousands of protesters braved the frigid temperatures, risking frostbite and hypothermia,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/globalWarming.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9015,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-did-elijah-send-the-servant-back-seven-times\/","url_meta":{"origin":82758,"position":2},"title":"Why did Elijah send the servant back seven times?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Did Elijah pray seven times or was he putting his servant through a test of faith for rain? (I Kings 18:41-45) Answer: \"Now Elijah said to Ahab, \"Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.\" So Ahab went up to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":89602,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thoughts-of-spring\/","url_meta":{"origin":82758,"position":3},"title":"Thoughts of Spring","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bobby L. Graham via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 \"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/spring-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":85716,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-long-will-you-hesitate-between-two-opinions\/","url_meta":{"origin":82758,"position":4},"title":"How Long Will You Hesitate Between Two Opinions?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by David Gibson \"Decision,\" wrote Gordon Graham, \"is a sharp knife that cuts clean and straight; indecision is a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges behind it\" [Bits & Pieces]. Israel could not seem to make up their minds whether they would serve the Lord or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":25842,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-hate-anyone\/","url_meta":{"origin":82758,"position":5},"title":"Does God hate anyone?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 29, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Does God hate anyone? And if so, who? 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