Sitting here on the roof top in Phnom Penh I am watching the wind blow through the leaves of the tree in front of me. It is strange to me that the leave are blowing in the wind yet I can’t feel it myself, on my own skin. The branches aren’t even much higher than where I am sitting. Some are at eye level. Yet even the most general breeze causes them to move. Sometimes there is a harder gust of wind that I can feel against my face. I begin to ask God what I can learn in this. As I pray I hear the Lord say it is like Christians, God speaking to us and our flesh. Let me explain.
The Lord moves sometimes in soft small breezes and sometimes in harder gusts of wind. Now the softer ones we cannot always feel. I would say this is due to our flesh. Our flesh can block out some of that movement or feeing from the Lord. Sometimes our flesh has more dirt or buildup on it, insert the sins that seem to be a constant struggle for you (cursing, drinking, porn, premarital sex, certain types of TV or music, maybe even the people you surround yourself with). During these times we will have a hardened heart or distractions or walls up that keep us from feeling that movement, voice, or feeling. Other times we may be in a time in life that is “cleaner” if you will. We are able feel more of the Lord and his voice and his presence when we are in that state of being closer to him, putting the Lord before those distractions and things of the Earth.
The tree I was watching signified what our daily walk with Christ should look like. It felt and reflected ever little and big breeze that the Lord sent to it. It was always there ready to receive and reflect whatever was sent from the Lord.
So here is what this tree taught me…
to stay clean… to be ready to move… to not allow the gunk and build up in my life to keep me from feeling, seeing and hearing him. So what do I need to do? What do you need to do that will keep you in a constant state of readiness to receive and move when the Lord presents himself? How can I keep myself “clean” and ready?
I just want to feel, hear, and see the Lord in every moment I can. Even in that still small voice or breeze.
