The Air We Breathe

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going…” (John 3:8, NIV 1984).

His voice was still quite hoarse after completing radiation for a laryngeal cancer 18 months ago. Before his cancer he had been quite a vocalist, writing and singing Christian music, some of which I had enjoyed from CDs he had given me. The struggles he endured had not dampened his musical spirit; he was still writing and singing, now with a unique raspy voice. As we finished his office visit, he told me about a new song he had written and was going to perform in church as a duet with an eight-year-old girl this next Sunday.

“It’s a beautiful song about the Holy Spirit,” he said.

His wife chimed in, “My favorite line in the song is ‘We can’t see the air we breathe but we know it gives us life.’”

“We can’t see the air we breathe but we know it gives us life.”

I rarely give God’s Spirit enough credit in my life. I certainly acknowledge His power in my prayers and pray for His help in times of trouble…but most of the time I act out my life as if God depended on me, rather than the other way around.

There is actually very little that God depends on me to do.

The plan for our life and each of our steps is decided by His Spirit.

The power to accomplish anything of value in our lives comes from His Spirit.

The results of all our actions for His kingdom are His responsibility.

“We can’t see the air we breathe but we know it gives us life.”

What then is left for us? What is our responsibility as we live for His kingdom?

Our task is but to listen, to obey and to trust.

We must listen hard and seek His guidance.

We must obey whenever we feel His leading.

We must trust Him for direction, power and outcomes.

But it is all: His plan, His power and His results.

“We can’t see the air we breathe but we know it gives us life.”

Dear Father,

Guide me into you plan, let me obey, no matter how hard, and let me trust you with the outcome. For your glory.

Amen