“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” – Acts of the Apostles 2:2-4
“And when He said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” – John 20:22
“Then the Lord formed man of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” – Genesis 2:7
Acts 2:2-3, John 20:22, Genesis 2:7 – the Lord shared these verses with me this morning – He asked me, “you look for me in the Pentecost fire and flash – but, how many times do you see my Spirit in the simple quiet breath of my heart? Receive My Spirit”
We who strive to follow God in our lives expect He show Himself as in the account of Acts 2. Show me ‘tongues of fire’, fill me with THIS Spirit and I’ll know and do Your Will. We look for the Spirit, expecting Him in a mighty earthquake, a hurricane wind or mighty blazing fire (1 Kings 19:11-13). But, how often we miss His in the quiet breath.
I have the image of the little boy with his toy sailboat playing in the puddle or stream. He places the boat in the still water. Then, bending slightly, the boy gives a slight puff from his lips and the boat kicks into action, moving across the ‘sea.’
Isn’t this the way God works most often in our lives? We look for mighty sings of fire. But, God gently leans down over us, breathes over us and we are kicked into action. The sails of our soul catch the soft Breath of God to move easily within His Will.
As God breathes this Spirit Wind into our soul, we are spurred to action. Many time we barely recognize His breath in our lives. But, it is always there. He is always stepping into our locked rooms to give us peace and breath His Mighty Breath into us.
“Tongues of Flame” moments can and do still occur in our life. I witness these often. In degrees of power from an ‘anointing of the Spirit’ in a wash of ‘goosebumps’ all the way to hearing God’s voice and feeling His power fill me in prayer. But, don’t get so caught up looking for the fire to fall that you miss the still, small breath of God. It is in this soft breath breathed over us that we gain life.