To live in the Spirit you have to live as the Spirit—like a breeze with no control.
This is so difficult; actually, it’s impossible for my mortal coil to do this. Try as I might, I always seem to control. I may not be outwardly maniacal in my control. I may not attempt to control others in my life by forcing my will on them, but control comes in many forms. Control of my reactions, control of my environment, control of my production or time—the list goes on and on. Control is found anywhere that I’m not living like a breeze.
God Moves Like a Breeze
The Spirit of the Living God moves like a breeze. His flow is gentle and easily affected. I can squelch His movement through my rigidity. And rigidity is just a kind word for willfulness. To live in the Spirit you have to live as the Spirit—like a breeze with no control.
And do not make the Holy Spirit sad. The Spirit is God’s proof that you belong to Him. God gave you the Spirit to show that God will make you free when the time comes.
Ephesians 4:30 ICB
To live by the Spirit, you must bend and flex within His Life and Will. Again, it is impossible for me to perform this but I have been given the power to choose, and choose I must. This is my responsibility. I must choose to yield, surrender, submit and relinquish my power of control. I don’t actually have power to control anyway; that’s all an illusion but this doesn’t stop me from trying.
I am called to flow in the Spirit and to move like a breeze. It’s truly a beautiful privilege I often resist. I have been invited to live in rest, free from anxiety in the Life of Christ. I have been liberated from my struggles to live out my life in effort and control. My years of slavery have been ended to live like a breeze. My life in the Spirit is yielded to the Will of the Father. And the Spirit comes to bring me into that flow, the healthiest, most liberating Life available to me.
The Breath is Like a Breeze
After being formed from the clay, Adam was given life by the breath of God. Today we’re to live our lives powered by that very same breath. Yes, living like a breeze is to live by the very breath of God.
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.
John 3:8 NIV
Thank you, John. Tammy’s question is a good one. 🙂
John, I like to “think” that I live according to the will of the Holy Spirit. I know this is not perfected in me by far but I do pray for it and believe as I am out of the way His will is in control. However, a recent employee evaluation that rates one as either “outstanding” ” satisfactory” or “needs improvement” gave me a “satisfactory” rating in my “ability to adjust schedule” and “accepts change easily.” A coworker commented that I don’t like “surprises” in relation to my work. I respect my evaluators and have asked the Lord to… Read more »
I am on it Tammy, not only is this a good question, it is precisely the issue I am working out in my life. I will hopefully have it written for my next post for you. Bless you for your transparency and for asking this question!
Big love,
John