As we entered into a new decade and New Year, the Lord spoke to very clearly to me saying that the season of dryness, barrenness and desolation, spiritually speaking has come to an end. He reminded me of the story of the prophet in 1 Kings 18:41-46 (NKJV):
Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea. So, he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So, Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
The Lord spoke to me that many of His people have been praying for weeks, months and even years for rain as in pertains to breakthrough, financial provision, resources, increase, favor and wisdom to execute their purpose, calling and heart in the earth. God said that many of His people have been anticipating their breakthrough and prayers to be answered, but there was little or nothing in return.
His people felt, at times, that their prayers had fallen on deaf ears. But God said, “not so!” For He says that in this new season, era and decade, the drought is over! Elijah heard something profound while he put his face between his knees. He heard the sound of an abundance of rain before he actually saw rain.
The Lord says this will be the season and decade that your prayer requests and prophetic decrees are looking for you. However, we have to make sure we are careful when we pray for rain.
What do I mean by this? God said that there are those who pray for rain but can’t handle the mud. In other words, we pray for divine blessings and an outpouring of God’s provision, but are we ready to handle the work that comes with it?
Are we ready to handle to persecution, jealousy, envy, betrayal and slander at times that come with the blessings and favor of the Lord? As you pray for rain, make sure you are well-suited and booted up for the trials and tribulations that will try to hinder and slow down your momentum. We can pray for rain, but make sure you are well-equipped for the mud it creates. The Lord says the drought is over, and the rain is coming to fund your vision, dream and burden.
Oftentimes, it’s hard to hear what God is trying to convey to us when we are overwhelmed with life and daily responsibilities. But Elijah didn’t stop praying! He continued to pray until he saw what he heard manifest.
This is the season where what you have been waiting for and praying about is coming to pass suddenly! Elijah had the prophetic forecast of what was coming and needed another set of eyes to see what he heard. At the seventh time, the servant saw literally what Elijah heard in the spirit in prayer.
This is the time you are about to encounter what you have been hearing, sensing, feeling and discerning for the last seven years, weeks or even days come to pass in your life. Not only is the drought over, but the rain is coming to soak you. The Lord is coming in this particular season to give you supernatural velocity to outrun your adversary, enemies and opposition. You will be on schedule and given supernatural acceleration to your God-given vision, dream and purpose.
The enemy will look as though he has the advantage, but in due season you will outrun people, places and things that once tried to keep you in the wilderness. The heavens are opening over you, and the hand of God is coming like the cloud that Elijah’s servant saw. What you are praying for is looking for you.
The wait is over, and the drought is over too! This is reaping what you have sown in prayer in private, and God is going to bless you publicly for everyone to see His hand on your life, ministry, business, family, church, marriage and everything you are called to do in Him.
I come to encourage you that unusual rain of God’s blessings is finding you. The famine is broken because of the prayers and prophetic decrees released by the faithful. It will begin to look like spring in the winter.
The Lord also showed me that there are those who have been faithful in sowing, tithing and giving. He is going to open the floodgates of heaven in this new year. We are about to see a wealth transfer and those called to handle significant amount of wealth.
Malachi 3:10-11(BSB) declares: “‘Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,’ says the Lord of Hosts. ‘See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your land, and the vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,'” says the Lord of Hosts.”
Do you realize that rain is in your mouth? You can, in this decade of the mouth and the Lord’s decree, ask, pray and decree rain in desert places. In James 5:16, we know the prayers of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a man just like you and me. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again, the same prophet prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. With rain, there is work to be done. Elijah prayed for rain, and rain came. However, with the blessings of rain, there is a harvest field of crops that must be attended to.
We have all heard the phrase “April showers bring May flowers.” The rain softens the soil so you can plow it and seed it. In places like India and some parts of Africa, it’s imperative that the farmers get some rain to soften up the soil.
Drought causes the soil of the ground to become very difficult, hardened and almost rock-solid. The rains assist in softening the soil for seed planting. The rain essentially provides nourishment so the plants produce new life. In the spring season, you will see the flowers and trees beginning to bud.
New life is ready to break and spirit forth. The rain is good at producing new life! It’s imperative to pray and ask God for the rain!
Natural rain is needed, and this also applies to God’s spiritual rain: The rain of heaven promises to quench our thirst if we drink of it. The rain of heaven is coming to bring new life, purification, divine satisfaction and breakthrough in every dry, barren and desolate place in your life. Get ready to dance in the rain! {eoa}
Dr. Hakeem Collins is an empowerment specialist, respected prophetic voice, apostolic leader, governmental minister, life coach and sought-after conference speaker. He is known for his keen accurate prophetic gifting and supernatural ministry and the author of the bestselling books Heaven Declares and Command Your Healing. He’s been featured on many television shows: Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural!, The Word Network and Cornerstone TV, just to name a few. He is host of the Prophetic Breakthrough podcast on the Charisma Podcast Network. Follow him on: facebook.com/drhakeemcollins/ and hakeemcollinsministries.com.
Stephen Strang 
Charisma Media Staff 
Charisma Staff