It’s Windy Inside

By Bishop Emeritus David Roller

The Holy Spirit moves into us when we accept God as our sovereign.

As we invite God into His rightful place in our lives, He inhabits us. His will, presence and voice enter our lives. He dwells in us.

Yet many of us live destitute, from handout to handout. Why?

Before Jesus’ time on earth, the Holy Spirit visited certain people and empowered them for service. Now followers of Jesus have the gift of His presence.

Yet many of us live a miserly spiritual existence.

Why? Where do the outbursts of anger, critical spirit, and memories of injustice come from? What about that thought of maneuvering to gain an advantage, or stuff that junks up our lives and impedes our progress?

Why do we put blinders on and blunder on when help — the Holy Spirit — is so near at hand?

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 “He didn’t make me better. He changed me. There’s a difference.”

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Opening the Door

I remember the day when I realized it was up to me. No one else could move me to the next step of intimacy.

If I wanted to connect with the Holy Spirit at a new level, I had to let Him overwhelm me. I knew the Holy Spirit was in me, but I wasn’t paying much attention.

I began to set aside my poverty that had locked me in a room by myself. I opened the door. I stepped out of my smallness and into Him.

I began to practice slowing down my responses to give the Holy Spirit a chance to get a word in edgewise. I began to practice sorting out my thoughts from His thoughts.

I slowly realized I didn’t have to sort out thoughts. The Holy Spirit’s character and purpose could overtake my character and purpose. His thoughts could become my thoughts. I didn’t have to guard against myself anymore.

He didn’t make me better. He changed me. There’s a difference.

Hoisting Our Sails

We Jesus-followers no longer navigate the tricky waters of self-denial, good works, or searching for meaning. The Holy Spirit knows the way and blows it to us.

If we hoist our sails, He blows a wind toward wholeness, meaning and service. If we insist on leaving our sails neatly lashed around the boom, or if we reef the cloth because of fear of sailing fast, we will always struggle.

But we are a people of adventure, not of fear! We always want to go faster and deeper.

The Wind blows.

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