Scripture for Today: John 3:8 “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where its going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

I am sure this pilot did his best to keep the plane level on landing at Wellington Airport in New Zealand. But the wind funneling through between the North and South Islands can be tricky. That channeling effect makes it strong and gusty. In this case it was blowing at 75 miles per hour! Aligning those runways with the wind allows planes to take off and land into the wind. This orientation is better for efficiency and safety, increasing lift and reducing ground roll.

Todays verse likens the Holy Spirit to wind. The relationship is even closer in the original Greek, using the same word, “pneuma.” And just as we cannot explain a sudden shift in the wind’s direction, so we cannot fully understand the intricacies of the Spirit’s work. Like the wind, He is invisible. But unlike the wind, the Holy Spirit is not an “it” or just a power, but the third person of the triune God. We do not control or direct Him. But as believers, we can be assured that He is not random or capricious but is working out God’s plan.

Like the airplanes that head into the wind for stability, I want to align myself with the movement and work of God’s Spirit. I want to listen carefully to His direction and cooperate! Sometimes the wind of His conviction over sin can be strong and uncomfortable. But a gentle breeze follows confession. Yes, He is invisible. But evidence of His presence is there in my life with the fruit He produces and the clarity He gives when reading God’s Word.

Thank you Lord, for Your beautiful Spirit.