Everyone is propelled by some external force—some kind of spiritual winds. As much as we would like to think we are pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps, we really aren’t. There is a fierce battle for our wills, our destinies and our souls. No one is exempt, and no one emerges from the battle a neutral bystander. Especially not in the age we find ourselves in.

                      What Drives You?

So I pose the question, what winds are in your sail? What winds are driving you across the waters of life? Are they the Winds from the Spirit of God, or are they the winds of deception?

One is a driving force, giving us power and direction far beyond our natural abilities. Not to make a superman of us for our own glory. Rather, to cause us to do great exploits for the Kingdom of God. 

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. –ESV 

 The other, is an unreliable sort, springing from our impassioned flesh and from the agendas of the god of this world. These winds lead to greater depths of darkness and ultimately to destruction. Though they promise good when their first gentle breezes ruffle our sail, a dark stormy gale will descend on us soon if we give those first advances any access. We may have a sunken vessel before we know it. 

In this age more than ever, we will default to the winds of deception if we are not grounded and driven by the Winds of the Spirit. This is because the winds of deception are blowing from thousands of directions, looking for ships that have no guidance. If the Spirit of God is not filling our sail, we have only to glance at things coming from Hollywood. Or billboards along the road. We need only to give our ear to secular music, or even just to the words of unreliable associates. These are only a few sources of deceptive winds that can blow us off course. They can cause us to end up in some dark place, scratching our heads at how we got there.

Ephesians 4:14 So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. –ESV  

                          Final Thoughts

The sources for the Winds of the Spirit are far more limited. The way is narrow, but thank God there is a way! We have access to this Wind through God’s Word, through fellow saints, and of course through the indwelling Spirit, if we have received Him. 

Let’s be sober and aware of the winds grappling for dominion of our sail. We can save ourselves a lot of trauma, and find much fulfillment if we put our sail out to the Holy Spirit and shun all other winds.