Like a Mighty Rushing Wind

Last night a storm came through our town, it continued through most of today bringing strong winds and blowing snow.  My husband was sick, so he slept upstairs in our bed and I crashed on the couch, only I couldn't really crash.  I just laid there for hours listening to the sound of the wind rushing around our house and through the trees.  I heard the creaking of the front porch swing.  I felt the strangeness of "perfectly still air" indoors knowing that just on the other side of the window, the door, the exterior walls, the air was anything but still.  It was violent, powerful, unstoppable.  

I immediately formed a mental picture of the protection of God while the storms of life rage all around yet inner peace is maintained supernaturally.  I thought I'd spend some time today writing about that beautiful stillness in the storm.  But when I sat down to write, I knew there was more to the story, or at least a different angle.  Some winds we are not supposed to be sheltered from. There is a wind we are supposed to be right in the middle of, enveloped by, changed by.  

The winds of this world, Jesus can still.  He proved that on more than one occasion with his disciples on the sea.  Sometimes he demonstrated this power by his words, rebuking the wind and the waves, and other times by his mere presence (Matthew 4 & 6).  It strikes me, that when Jesus instructed His disciples that He would have to leave them to return to the Father, but that a helper would come - that the helper was ushered in by a violent, rushing wind (Acts 2).  Wind leaves little doubt as to power.  Unseen power.  Every power on earth was created by God and is less powerful than God, a pale glimpse of what He is capable of.  The sun in our solar system is unbelievably bright, so bright we cannot gaze directly at it for very long without fear of damaging our eyes, but we are told that when we are in God's presence in heaven there will be no need for a sun to provide light and warmth.  God will BE our light.  Unfathomable!

It is only fitting then that He should demonstrate a greater wind as well. A wind that brings life and not destruction.  A wind that can distinguish between that which should remain and that which should be blown away within the soul to make room for that which should reside there.  I am feeling that now in my own life.  Feeling the aches and pains of old soul scars acting up, as a fresh wind prepares to blow through and bring about some needed changes in my life.  As Christians, we are not able to live comfortably, happily, unscathed while holding on to things that do not belong in our souls - sinful attitudes, actions, desires.  They eat at us and the pressure mounts, reminding us that these lesser gods have no place in our lives.  And yet, if we insist on them for long enough, God will allow us to batten down the hatches of our hearts, boarding up the open places - and effectively QUENCH the wind of His Spirit.  We haven't beaten Him or overpowered Him if we do this... we have rejected His life-giving work.  

This song, by Keith Green expresses a desire to remain wide open for the wind of God's Spirit to blow through our lives and do the work it was created to do.  I used to sing it in college and it comes to mind frequently.  May I ever be grateful for and open to His Mighty Rushing Wind.

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Rushing wind, blow through this temple,
Blowing out the dust within;
Come and breathe your breath upon me:
I've been born again.

Holy Spirit, I surrender; take me where you want to go.
Plant me by your living water,
Plant me deep so I can grow.
Jesus, you’re the one who sets my spirit free;
Use me, Lord; glorify your Holy Name through me.

Separate me from this world, Lord;
Sanctify my life for you.
Daily change me to your image,
Help me bear good fruit.

Ev'ry day you're drawing closer;
Trials come to test my faith.
But when all is said and done, Lord,
You know it's been worth the wait.

Jesus, you’re the one who set my spirit free;
Use me, Lord; glorify your Holy Name through me.

Rushing wind, blow through this temple,
Blowing out the dust within;
Come and breathe your breath upon me,
For I've been born again.