QUESTION OF THE DAY #32: "What puts the wind in your sails?"

I wrestled with this question this week.  Leading worship energized me, but then I was tired and had to take a Sunday nap!  Playing football with my son lifted my spirits, but I eventually had to say, "I can't go any longer!"  Being with the people for my Bible study lifted me up, but not every time that I'm with others do I feel lifted up.

Being with loved ones, doing things I love, exercise, work, hobbies, accomplishments, and taking care of my physical body all are important and wonderful and inspiring, but if I rely on any one of "my things" to automatically and completely put the wind in my sails, sooner or later I'll feel let down.  That doesn't mean that any of these things are bad, or that they aren't what inspires me.  It's just that it is an unfair burden to place on activities, on other people, and on myself. 

So as I continued to wrestle with this question today, I stopped by at the House of the Dove, which is a place for hospice care.  I had a visit to make, and as I left the building, I was greeted by a rush of wind, by the golden morning sunshine, and also by a sculpture by a local artist of an angel with a dove.  

Yep, God pretty much hit me over the head with this one.  His Holy Spirit is the wind in my sails! The same God who breathed into me the breath of life also keeps me going through the power of the Holy Spirit! 

"...he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit..." (Titus 3:5 ESV)