Snap!

In the book, God’s Story, by Anne Graham Lotz, she shares an illustration in the Acknowledgment section of the book using a sail boat and the affect that wind has on the sail.  Anne’s illustration left an impression that has blessed me over the years and I would like to share it with you.

Anne shared about how laborious and slow it was to write her book.  She said, “It was as if she was straining at the oars of a boat with no wind to fill the sails and propel it across the water.”  Later, as she was still straining at her computer, she called her mother Ruth Bell Graham, for prayer.  Her mother began to describe a scene of, “Sailing on a large boat, with the tranquility of total quietness broken only by the loud snap! as the wind filled the sails and the boat shot across the surface of the sea.”  Her mother prayed for, “God’s peace and quietness to descend upon Anne’s heart, broken only by the loud snap! of the wind as the Holy Spirit Himself filled her mind, carrying her swiftly through this project.”  Anne said that within five weeks of her mom praying that prayer, the rough draft of the book was finished!

What a great reminder!  So many times we try to “make things happen” without relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.  Many times we strain and we rush to “get to the other side”. In doing so, we only burn our own energy and we are left discouraged with no results to show and in some cases, in a worse situation. 

In John 15:5 Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

There have been many times in my life when I have tried to accomplish tasks using my own resources - but accomplished nothing.  It was only after I prayed and humbled myself that the LORD provided the “wind” to allow me to accomplish the task in His way and through His resources.

Do you need to hear the sound of the loud snap as the wind fills the sails of your boat? What problem is causing you to strain at the oars?  Ask the LORD to send “His Wind”, the power of the Holy Spirit, to answer a prayer that has been heavy on your heart.  May you receive God’s peace and may His quietness descend upon your heart as you wait patiently and listen for the snap!

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:7-8