If trees could talk
The other day, I was mesmerized by the wind blowing and moving the leaves of this lovely tree. Especially beautiful was when the wind would pick up, move the leaves in a greater way and cause them to fall. Oh, and the leaves on the ground are so pretty. As I sat there watching my mind began to think about the Holy Spirit and how Jesus likened the Holy Spirit to the wind. You cannot see the wind. You cannot see the Holy Spirit. But we can see the effects of both.
The Holy Spirit who I cannot see began to recall a few Scriptures I’d studied about the effects of the Holy Spirit. First, I marveled at the promise that the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance Scripture because I am horrible at memorizing Scripture. Wow, thank you, Lord! Remembering what I learned in Scripture was/is a miracle! Does that sound outrageous? This miracle worker of the Holy Spirit is promised to all who believe what the Bible says about Jesus Christ. Just like this tree is experiencing the effects of the wind, I have personally experienced the effects of the Holy Spirit who…
—Guides me to the truth
—Reveals wisdom and knowledge that I do not and cannot have but desperately need
—Produces within me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
All are miracles I tell you! Effects of the Holy Spirit. But no sooner did these few effects come to mind than I began to ask myself why I don’t experience the effects of the Spirit in my life all the time. Like 100% of the time.
Wind barriers.
Yep, I put up wind barriers every time I choose a lie over the truth because I want what I want, don’t act in the God-given (supernatural) wisdom and knowledge that’s been granted to me, or decided I don’t want the Holy Spirit to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in me. My wind barriers quench (extinguish, suppress, stifle) the effects of the Holy Spirit in my life. Not only that, but my wind barriers grieve (make sorrowful, affect with sadness) the Holy Spirit of God. Truth be told, my wind barriers rob me of the abundant life Christ promises me.
So why oh why would I ever put in place wind barriers? I know, right? Why oh why would I not want to experience these miracles in my life? Yep, I’ve lost my ever-loving mind. How? I put my will … the desires of my mind and flesh up against the will of the Holy Spirit. I think wrong thus respond and act wrong. Wind barrier.
To experience the full impact of the wind of the Holy Spirit in my life means I lay down my will so there are no wind barriers in place. It’s a process and every day brings opportunities to choose because our Lord graciously gives new mercies each day.
Thank you tree for being used by the Holy Spirit today to teach me, remind me, and encourage me that living in the wind of the Spirit is a beautiful thing.
Blow Spirit. Blow on us. Bend our will to Yours.
John 3:8
John 14:26
Ephesians 1:13-14
John 16:13
2 Cor. 2:9-11
Galatians 5:22-23
2 Thessalonians 5:19
Ephesians 4:30
