The Wind Blew!

May 5, 2022

The Wind Blew!

As I walked to First Church a couple of weeks ago, the wind was blowing into my face at 30 miles per hour.  It seemed like almost all of the month of April was filled with 30 plus mile per hour winds.  Day after day after day the wind blew.

As I walked along Grande Street a couple of weeks ago, I uttered a prayer.  “Jesus, as strong as the wind is blowing across our city this morning, please let the Holy Spirit blow across the people of First Church today.” 

I was praying for an obvious manifestation of the Spirit’s presence.  I was praying for a strong outpouring of the Spirit’s power.  I was praying for a fresh anointing of the Spirit’s person.  I was praying for a new splattering of the Spirit’s gifts.  I was praying for an obvious demonstration of the Spirit’s leading.

I watched as the wind confused tumble weeds as they blew one way and then the next.  I watched as the wind disordered perfectly groomed hair on both men and women.  I watched as the wind puzzled young children who struggled to walk alongside their parents. 

The wind blew strong.  I prayed the Holy Spirit would blow strong, too.

While speaking to a wise and spiritual man named Nicodemus, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as something like the wind.  In John 3:8 Jesus says; “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.  So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Like the wind, I cannot see the Spirit but I can see its impact.  I have watched the wind tear up billboard signs, strip the roof off of buildings, and stir up dust, allergens, and grass fires.  In a similar way, I have seen the Spirit lead a woman to be a pastor, anoint a teen-ager with the gift of leading worship, and fill a depressed old man with hope and joy.

I may not be able to see the Spirit, but I can see sure and certain signs of His presence and power working in the lives of other people.  For the manifestation of the Spirit, I am grateful.  For the power of the Spirit, I take delight in the Lord.

I am praying the Holy Spirit will blow across the people of First Church as strongly as the wind has blown across our region for most of April. 

I pray the Spirit will grab our attention like a sharp gust of wind smashing against the side of our car while driving down the Interstate. 

I pray the Spirit will push against our desire to go our way rather than God’s way like the wind straightening us up when we are walking straight into it.

I pray the Spirit will lead us closer and closer to the heart of Jesus like the wind blows strongly across the hills we love and the valley we cherish.

When the Spirit blows into and across our lives, our hearts will be filled with delight.  Come, Holy Spirit, Come!  Blow into our lives and into First Church with a fresh anointing.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug