Wind

Just a few hundred feet away from me, the sunlight is peeking through the branches of the forest outside my music room window. I look up and see tiny patches of blue sky creating a backdrop for the trees. There’s a soft, gentle breeze blowing causing leaves and branches to lightly wave in smooth choreographed movements like a choir beginning to sway together to the rhythm of a song.

Wind…”air in natural motion”¹

I love the sound of those words!

“Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret” by Mrs. Howard Taylor tells of the spiritual life of Hudson Taylor, a Christian missionary to China and founder of China Inland Mission (now OMF International). Taylor spent 51 years in China caring for the spiritual and physical needs of Chinese people. Mrs. Howard writes of Taylor’s life of prayer and service.

What does that have to do with wind?

Good question!

This book is my current read. I am being challenged as I read of Taylor’s prayer life and his singular call to the Chinese people. No, I’m not feeling called to return to China to live and work. However, I am sensing a much stronger pull than the one God used to send me to China and to bring me back to the US. I feel the stirring of the wind of God’s Spirit calling me to a deeper life in Him!

Years ago, I often sang a song by Lanny Wolfe—Whatever It Takes². I must admit that I was so caught in the flow of the melody, the sounds of the harmonies, the blend of the music with the words, and how noble the sentiments were that I really didn’t pay that much attention to the meaning of the lyrics themselves. Bad idea! Never sing something before counting the cost!

After nearly losing my family and my life, after deeply grieving the death of my husband and loss of my home, after ultimately moving to a “land far away,” I decided I would never sing that song again. The cost was too high and the reality too painful. Since then, however, I have changed my mind. Now I say I will never sing that song or any other without first carefully considering what it might mean for me. I don’t want to sing lies to God! I want to sing truth! I want my sung words to be just as committed to Him as my spoken words.

Oh yes, I feel His wind stirring my heart, soul, mind, and spirit—asking if I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be more like Him! Am I willing to spend more time on my knees in pursuit of a deeper life in Christ? Am I willing to change my lifestyle and habits in order to become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him? Am I willing to lose myself that I might gain Him—willing to yield my will wholly to His so He can be glorified and others can hear of His love and experience His grace?

Careful, Janie! Count the cost…carefully consider before you respond.

My spirit cries, “Yes, Abba, yes!” Ah, but my flesh…unbelievably weak!

The Apostle Paul understood this dilemma.

^“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”³

It was Paul who also wrote in Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”⁴ As I lean on Him and look to Him, He will be at work in me to not only “will” or want to do His will, but to also provide all I need in order to “do” His will. I don’t have to do anything in my own strength. All I need He will provide!

I choose to commit! God, help me!

The wind of His Spirit is calling you, too! What will you say to Him?

¹http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wind?s=t 

²Whatever It Takes

 

Verse 1

There’s a voice calling me from an old rugged tree

And it whispers draw closer to Me

Leave this world far behind; there are new heights to climb

And a new place in Me you will find

 

Chorus

For whatever it takes to draw closer to You Lord

That’s what I’ll be willing to do

For whatever it takes to be more like You

That’s what I’ll be willing to do

I’ll trade sunshine for rain; comfort for pain

That’s what I’ll be willing to do

For whatever it takes for my will to break

That’s what I’ll be willing to do

 

Verse 2

Take the dearest things to me if that’s how it must be

To draw me closer to Thee

Let the disappointments come; lonely days without the sun

If through sorrow more like You I’ll become

 

Verse 3

Take my houses and lands; change my dreams and my plans

For I’m placing my whole life in Your hands

And if You call me today to a land far away

Lord I’ll go and Your will obey

 

Lanny Wolfe | Marietta Wolfe

© 1975 Lanny Wolfe Music (Admin. by Gaither Copyright Management)

 

³Romans 8:18-19 NIV

⁴NIV