It seems most days are windy in our neck of the woods, except during the hot summer when I pray for a breeze even if it would feel more like opening a hot oven door. The first 6 months we lived in Fort Worth I would ask people, “Is it always this windy here?” Everyone replied, “No. It is not always this windy.” I laugh at this now. After 6 months, why was I asking the same question over and over? I should have caught on by then that yes, it usually is this windy here.
Some days when I walk, it’s all I can do to push against the wind. Yet when the wind is at my back, I feel as if I can almost fly. Walking against the wind may give me a better work-out than being blown in the direction I am headed, but it’s not as much fun.
The wind can be so strong it not only blows my hair everywhere, but it blows my eyelashes. It is uncomfortable when my eyelashes are blowing in the wind as if they are about to be torn from my eyelids.
We have many wind advisories in Fort Worth. One of my favorite warnings is, “Secure your lawn furniture.” They should add things like, “Hang on to your cowboy hats.” “Keep Rover on a leash and hold on tightly.” “Keep Johnny and Susie indoors today, unless you have a wooden fence they will bump up against as they are blown across the yard.”
Though we cannot see it, wind is powerful. Wind changes things and moves things around. Just have a look at my hair after being outside in the wind.
The Holy Spirit is like this. Though we cannot see Him, He changes things and moves things around. More importantly He changes and moves us. We are never the same after we invite Him into our lives.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Galatians 5:22, 23, 25
The Holy Spirit is powerful, even more powerful than the Texas wind.