A Gentle Breeze

I was pondering the difference  between a gentle breeze and a fierce wind. A gentle breeze is cooling and refreshing. It is constructive. Most often a mighty or fierce wind is a destructive force. Think of tornadoes, hurricanes and thunderstorms with high winds. Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus (Yahshua) comes to give us life and that more abundantly (John 10:10).

Isaiah 40:11 is a beautiful description of  our Good Shepherd's gentleness. It tells us, "He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom,and gently lead those who are with young." Now that's tenderness! Being carried in his bosom is a safe place where healing takes place.

We are also told in Mathew 12:20 that a bruised reed he will not break. Jesus is here to bring wholeness to every area of our lives. Satan longs for just the opposite. He loves it when we are broken and defeated.

What our Father longs for most is ever deepening relationship with his children. As his sons and daughters, he wants us to taste and see how good he truly is (Psalm 34:8). Building a relationship takes time. Trust can't be coerced, but rather it is earned. Healing and deliverance must take place for us to be able to trust. Trust involves honesty and vulnerability. Our loving Father never rushes the trust building process, but gently leads us one step at a time to quiet waters and green pastures (Psalm 23).

Time spent in prayer, praise and Scripture study is the key to an ever deepening relationship. It is through time spent conserving with someone, sharing your heart and attentively listening as they share theirs that you learn to know their voice and distinguish it from other voices whether friendly or hostile (John 10:26). To be able to discern the enemies voice and not follow him builds trust and deepens our relationship with Jesus. I consider my prayer time sacred and usually do it first thing in the morning when I'm most alert and can give my precious Savior my best.



A GENTLE BREEZE

A gentle breeze,

Or a gentle rain,

Slow,

Calm,

Cooling,

Refreshing,

Contrasted with...

A mighty wind,

Or rain,

Rushing,

Boisterous,

Overwhelming,

Fatiguing,

Like him,

God’s spirit is gentle,

Not forceful,

Persuasive,

Not dictatorial,

Earning trust,

Not controlling you,

Respecting free will,

Not demanding compliance,

Building relationship,

Not coercing submission,

Always honest,

Not deceptive,

Affirming,

Not condemning,

Healing wounds,

Not inflicting them,

Setting people free,

Not causing bondage,

Unlike Satan’s harsh spirit,

Which is a destructive wind.