My husband and I used to live in Belton, Texas. We absolutely loved it there and had hoped we would raise our family there. God had other plans for us.
Behind our backyard fence in Belton was an open field. The city would allow the grass to grow three feet high before coming to mow. I didn’t mind it at all. I’d sit on my back porch when the wind was blowing and watch the grass bend and melodically move beneath the wait of the wind. It was mesmerizing and cathartic. It had the same effect on me as when I would sit on a beach and watch the ocean waves come in.
Now as I sit on my front porch, I watch and listen to the wind move the limbs and leaves of the tall trees in my yard and my neighbors’ yards. It’s symphonic. The harder the wind blows, the louder the leaves rustle. I become hypnotized watching how the wind will move some branches in one direction and others in a completely different direction. It’s just so peaceful.
In addition to the wind blowing the leaves, there are birds singing and squirrels squalling. (Apparently, someone is in BIG trouble. I’m not a squirrel whisperer, but I think an angry momma in any language translates through the tone of her voice. Ha!)
VOCAB WORD FOR THE DAY: Psithurism – noun… The sound of the wind through the trees (thefreedictionary.com)
Wind can be as gentle as a breeze, but as powerful as a hurricane. I once worked a catastrophe involving a tornado that hit downtown Lancaster, Texas, and the force of the wind caused a pine needle to go through concrete and a metal sign. That was some powerful wind.
It’s funny. You don’t see the wind, but you see the effects of the wind. You can feel the wind. Much like you don’t see the Holy Spirit, but you see the effects of the Holy Spirit and can feel His presence. If there was ever a friend we need to engage in conversation with it is the Spirit.
When we feel alone, the Spirit can fill us (Acts 13:52) and give us joy. He pours God’s love into our hearts (Romans 5:5). He intercedes for us when we don’t have the words (Romans 8:26). The Spirit searches God and knows the deepest things and then He communes with us (1 Corinthians 2:10). He gives gifts, spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12). He gives us freedom from what holds us hostage (2 Corinthians 3:17). There are so many benefits to having a close relationship with the Spirit, but often, we overlook it.
Have you ever heard someone say, “What a coincidence”? I don’t believe in coincidences at all. If something like that happens, I’m looking for the hand of God. I’m going to be looking to see the effects of the Spirit moving and working. I’m going to be talking to the Spirit asking what I am supposed to be seeing or understanding.
“You can’t direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails.”
There are Christians who pray for God to give them a sign but fail to see the Spirit moving in their lives because He doesn’t move in the expected way. He doesn’t handle your problem the way He handled someone else’s. Just like the wind, it moves some branches in one direction and others in a different direction. Stop trying to make the Spirit do or be something you want. Start being the child of God the Spirit can work with to mature. There’s a saying, “You can’t direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails.” You can’t tell the Spirit what to do, but you can adjust and change according to how He leads. The question is, are you willing to adjust and change and move with the Spirit.