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Calling on The Holy Spirit
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May 19, 2022
In reference to my March 15 blog posting concerning the Hound of Heaven, I spotlighted Francis Thompson likening God to a pursuing hound who never gives up the chase.
With Pentecost coming soon, I am thinking of The Holy Spirit and the wind. In a way, I liken it to The Hound of Heaven. The wind howls around us even as I write this article. When we are open to The Holy Spirit and invite Him into our lives, the floodgates open to our deepening walk with Christ.
For example, at morning mass a few weeks ago, the priest quoted from John 3:8 in his homily.
"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8 (NASB)
That verse impressed me because I first read it before mass in my Magnificat prayer book’s Prayer of the Day. I kept rereading that verse as though it were leaping off the page.
After reading some similar scholarly interpretations of John 3:8 on The Internet, I will make the comparison of the wind and The Holy Spirit.
The Lord Jesus used a simple example from nature to teach a profound spiritual truth. He likened the invisible, unpredictable movement of the wind to the unfathomable Spirit of God. The wind can only be observed by the swishing of grass, the swaying of trees or the eerie howl from the rafters of a house. As I write, I am listening to the wind creating whistling and swooshing sounds. I can feel its effect on my body.
Although The Spirit of God is unfathomable, observers can witness the influence of The Spirit in the lifestyle changes of a believer by his or her humility and gracious behavior. The relationship you have with God should show the evidence of a more virtuous life. if it doesn't then you should begin to ask why that's not the case. Your walk with God should never be static.
Our new life in Christ is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in the very heart of a believer by faith. We are to continue walking in the Spirit by living our lives in both spirit and truth while praying for guidance from the Spirit.
In summary, people can observe the unfathomable movement of the Spirit of God in the person who yields his or her life to the Lord.
One of the most remarkable characteristics of a godly person is humility.
As we approach the feast of Pentecost in a few weeks, *examine yourselves to see whether you are living in faith. Have you asked for the Holy Spirit? Visualize God as a loving parent who wants to *give us the Holy Spirit.
Ask for the Holy Spirit and you will receive (Mt 7:7).
Come, Holy Spirit, Amen.
* 2 Corinthians 13:5 — The New International Version (NIV) 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
*Luke 11:13 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!