It sounded strange to me at first. In a recent conversation, some were talking about a "wind farm." I had some of the strangest images in my head until they described what it was. I had seen pictures before, but didn't know this was called a wind farm. In some parts of the country where the wind blows constantly, they install a field full of giant windmills to harness the natural energy of the wind.The windmills did not get there by windmill seeds, but by the building efforts and vision of people who saw a rich source of energy that was untapped.
Our Lord also has provided a rich source of energy for us. Notice the following passages that speak of that energy.
"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8)."
" ‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; John 7:38-39)."
"…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…(Eph 3:16)"
The Spirit whom Jesus gives is an endless source of power. It flows constantly like rivers of living water. However, just like the wind that blows constantly, we cannot see it, only its effects.
But wind doesn't do any good unless we harness its power. The Spirit will do us little good if we don't allow it to lead us and strengthen us. We need to set up our windmills and allow the Spirit to energize our spirituality and propel us to growth and maturity.
Okay, we can understand the analogy well enough, but where does the rubber meet the road? How can we make practical use of it?
Here are some suggestions on how to install our windmills. The first comes from 1 Thess. 5:19 which tells us, "Do not quench the Spirit." We are to keep it burning. The context of this verse tells us how to do it:
1. Always rejoice (1 Thess 5:16)
2. Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17)
3. Give thanks in everything (1 Thess 5:18)
The second part of the list comes from Ephesians 4:30 which tells us, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…" We are to make the Spirit joyful by living according to His goals for us. The context of the passage tells us that this involves how we treat one another…
4. Speak no unwholesome words, only edifying ones to give grace (Eph 4:29).
5. Put away all bitterness, anger, slander, clamor and malice (Eph 4:31).
6. Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to one another, just as our Lord is (Eph 4:32).
So the windmill involves a dual focus of our relationship to God through prayer and thanksgiving, and focus on our relationships with one another. When we strive to do these things, our windmills are up and facing the wind of the Spirit that breathes his strength onto us and energizes us to do what we ought to.
Where is your windmill facing?