Come, Holy Spirit

Last weekend the wind was horrible - felt like hurricane winds!  My outside umbrella blew over, my trash can blew over and blew trash around.  It was cold but with the wind it felt cold to the bone, as my Granny would say.  I was tired of the wind and ready for it to go away.  As soon as I woke up that morning I had a group text from Pine Valley United Methodist Church Pastor Tim to the staff.  It said, "Praying that this outside wind will be an indication of the Holy Spirit wind inside PVUMC this morning."  Wow!  I felt ashamed at how I felt about the wind.  About that time, our power went off in my bedroom and bathroom.  I was reminded again of the power of the Holy Spirit. 

I know that I have power in my house but I cannot see it.  I believe in electricity even though I cannot see it.  I believe in the power because I see what it does and what it does not do when it is turned off.  No lights, no tv, no clock.  The same is true with the Holy Spirit.  You can not physically see it but you can believe in it because you can see what it does in your life and others lives.  Romans 9:17, "For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

In Ephesians 3:16, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being..."  God’s power is available to us because of his Holy Spirit in us.  It is not "our" power, but His.  It is the Holy Spirit’s power that is at work in us that enables us to live differently.  Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." 

I went to church and the prayers were answered.  I always feel the presence of the Holy Spirit there but this morning it was extremely powerful in the very first song.  I did like I often do.  I got quiet and just listened.  I could hear nearly 400 people singing!  It was beautiful and I could just see my Dad and other loved ones in Heaven worshiping too.  God is worthy of our praise.  Because of Who He is!

We were singing, "We Worship You" by Israel Houghton.  The words were:  "Lord You are good and Your mercy endureth forever.  People from every nation and tongue From generation to generation.  We worship You hallelujah hallelujah.  We worship You for who You are....You are good"  It was like everyone in that gym was feeling how good God has been, is and will be to us!  How faithful God has been to us.  All of our lives!  Then we sang, "All My Hope Is In Jesus" by Crowder.  We sang, "All my hope is in Jesus.  Thank God that yesterday's gone.  All my sins are forgiven.  I've been washed by the blood."  After a hard week I am glad yesterday is gone.  My sins are forgiven.  I am ready for a new day!

Paul reminds us that it’s through the “eyes of our heart” that we see how God is working in our lives because we have Jesus Christ in our hearts. When God begins to live in us in the form of the Holy Spirit, he gives us a new heart that is able to renew our minds to His truths.  Ephesians 1:18-20, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms."    

When we set our hearts on these truths, we become more aware of the Holy Spirit and God's will for our life.  Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  When we see this power working in our lives, it motivates us to glorify God with our lives. 

I am thankful for the mighty wind in Pine Valley United Methodist Church.  On the way home last week, even though it was still dreary and windy outside, things seemed much brighter.  I will never think of wind the same! I will worship you, God, for Who You are!  

Jill Jarrell-Newsome