What winds of change are blowing through your life right now? Are you going through a period of change at work, experiencing change in a relationship, or going through some other type of significant change? Change can be stressful, but it can also propel you toward wonder. When you feel the strong winds of March, let them inspire you to seek the Holy Spirit, who renews your soul through change.
Jesus compares the Holy Spirit to the wind in John 3:8, where he says: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” The Greek word for “Spirit” in this verse is the same as that for “wind”. The Holy Spirit manifests in the form of a strong wind when it’s time to empower believers in the early church, Acts 2:1-4 describes: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
A powerful way to deal with change blowing into your life is to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance about it. Change can feel disorienting and confusing, but the Holy Spirit can reveal God’s purposes for change that comes your way. Sometimes change happens to you. At other times, you must take action to bring about a change you want to happen. Either way, the Holy Spirit can help you. The Holy Spirit acts as an advocate and teacher, Jesus reveals in John 14:26: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit works in many wonderful ways.
When you’re stressed by change, it can be challenging to pray long prayers. But you can pray breath prayers in the middle of any stressful situation. Not only are breath prayers brief – short enough to be expressed in just one breath – but they also engage your own “wind” (your breathing), reminding you of the Holy Spirit’s presence with you. You say the first part of your prayer while inhaling, welcoming the Holy Spirit to blow into your soul like a wind and asking for inspiration. Then, you say the second part of your prayer while exhaling, visualizing yourself blowing stress out of your soul so there’s more room to receive God’s peace. Breath prayers are usually simple statements of about six to 12 syllables long. Examples include: “Dear God, please help me”, “God, my light, guide me”, and “My trust is in you, God.”
I share a story in Wake Up to Wonder about a miraculous sign involving wind, which God gave me when I was grieving my beloved Grandma Lena. What happened was beyond my understanding, yet a powerful means of encouragement. God sometimes uses the wind to inspire us. As Psalms 104:4 says, “He makes winds his messengers…”.
This month, enjoy the strong winds that March brings your way. Fly a kite or take a nature walk, and feel the rush of the wind’s power. Let those moments of wonder inspire you to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance for positive change.
Blessings,
Whitney