Wind and the Spirit

I felt God beckoning us outside. It was a beautiful and cool fall morning. The boys and I watched the trees sway in the wind. We noticed some trees were moved while others remained still. Immediately John 3:8 came to my mind. "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus in this passage. Nicodemus, the one who slipped away in the night to know more about Jesus and talk with Him privately.  As Jesus was teaching Him, I wonder if they felt a cool night breeze while Jesus uttered those beautiful words.

We cannot see the wind, but we can feel it and we can see the tree that bends because of it. We cannot see the Holy spirit but we can most definitely see and feel the effects of Him.

I think about the disciples. Everyday was an exciting journey for they never knew what the day would hold. Of course they may have had a plan to travel to Bethany or another specific place but they most always stopped along the way. They stopped for people crying out to Jesus. They stopped when Jesus noticed someone out of the crowd who needed His touch.

I'm sure they didn't expect to see Jesus feed five thousand people that specific day. They didn't expect Him to be moved with compassion for the woman with the issue of blood who dared to reach out and touch Him to receive healing. They didn't expect to see Lazarus rise from the dead at Jesus' command. They didn't expect to see Him heal blind men who cried out to Him on their travels. They didn't expect to see Him walk on water and calm the wind and waves.

Maybe they didn't expect these things to happen, but I believe they did expect and believe something amazing was going to happen everyday! Why? Because they were walking with Jesus!

Our walk with Jesus should never be dull or boring either. It should be an exciting journey with our Savior. To be so filled with His Spirit that we expect Him to move and work through us everyday. We may not know how He desires to use us but we can expect Him to do something amazing everyday!

How often do I go throughout my day not looking for where He is working. At the grocery store, am I so consumed with my list and my schedule that I miss the person God has placed in front of me to minister to? What about the person who shares their burdens with me and I say I'm sorry and that I'll be praying. Shouldn't I stop right there to hold them and pray with them in that moment? Is that not what Jesus did? He was never in a hurry and always made time for those who cried out to Him.

Are we really that busy? Are our schedules really more important than the Lord's schedule and His work. I don't want to miss opportunities that He gives me to shine His hope and love into the lives of others. Oh that He will give us His eyes and His heart for those around us who desperately need Him. Oh that we will lay our wills and our desires down so He can have His way in and through us.

 I want to expect Him to do amazing things through me today and everyday! I may not know what He's going to do but I do expect Him to move. Let's ask the Lord to open doors for His message to be shared through us and see what happens! Walking with Jesus is an exciting journey!