Breaking Arizona's Curse of Drought

For the past nine years, Arizona has experienced a drought that is threatening our supply of water. The worst period for Arizona in recent years has been the past 3 years. This drought has not only manifested in the natural, but in the spirit and has become a widely accepted condition in Arizona. In fact, Arizona’s governor in recent months has sought to establish a program by which Arizona would become the world’s guru on drought and water management issues. However, there are those who believe that drought is a curse that kingdom-minded Christian believers can partner with God to reverse, both in the natural and in the spirit.

James 5:17,18 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”

Apostolic Signs, Wonders & Mighty Deeds

On October 15^th 2004, GateKeepers enjoyed the privilege of having Native American Cheyenne Apostle Jay Swallow from Oklahoma speak at the GateKeepers Fall Prophetic Conference in Phoenix. Dr. Swallow is a humble, light-hearted, fun-loving grandfather figure outside the pulpit, but under the anointing transforms into a bold and powerful apostle of Christ with signs following.

II Corinthians 12:12 “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”

For instance, in December 2001, Apostle Swallow was summoned to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in the Dakotas where they were averaging 6 suicides or suicide attempts at month, which is far higher than the national average. At the reservation, Dr. Swallow encountered a spirit of Baal and Anubis, the Jackal god of the dead, and through spiritual warfare dismantled the spirit of death. Since December 2001, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation remains suicide free and many are coming into the kingdom of God. Not only have there been no suicides, there have been no suicide attempts by anyone from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

Amid other reports about Dr. Swallow’s apostolic authority, including raising someone from the dead last year, I felt impressed by the Lord before he left the platform at our conference to invite him to pray to break the curse of natural and spiritual drought that had gripped Arizona. Dr. Swallow’s prayer was so anointed and powerful that we all sensed a major shift in the atmosphere.

It’s Beginning to Rain

Less than a week later, starting on October 21^st, Phoenix began to experience much rain and Flagstaff several inches of snow. In Phoenix, we had rain on October 21st & 28^th, November 7^th, 8^th, 12^th, 15^th, 21^st, 22^nd. After November 22^nd I stopped recording the days of rain. The November 2004 Arizona State Climate Update reported, “All seven climate divisions across the state experienced greater than normal precipitation, highlighted by the wettest October on record in the northwest portion of the state. The cool and wet conditions have helped to provide relief to the lengthy drought that has characterized the state in recent years.”

Although Phoenix, as of December 7^th, 2004 is 1.15 inches of rain below the annual average of 8.29 inches, Arizona is well on its way to recovery from not only a natural, but also a spiritual drought that has plagued our state. As we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will grant us a heart-rending repentance that will allow Him to come and rain righteousness upon us.

Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”

I, along with many other prophetic voices, believe that Arizona is on the brink of a major outpouring of God’s Spirit. The rain of righteousness that the Lord is bringing will not only refresh the Body, but clear our blurred vision to see our desperate need for spiritual unity amid the diversity of cultures represented throughout our state. At the GateKeepers Spring Prophetic Conference in April 2004, it was prophetically declared that Native Americans would be a major key to revival in Arizona and that the Hispanic population would be a major key to revival in Phoenix. In 2005, as we embrace and heed Native American and Hispanic apostles and prophets resident in the state of Arizona, we will begin to see a spiritual revival and statewide societal, economic, governmental and climatic transformation that this state has never witnessed. In 2005, Arizona will more fully begin to realize the fulfillment of its redemptive purpose as a state of restoration. Likewise, Phoenix will begin to truly fulfill its purpose as a city of refuge for the nations.