10/04/2021
By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
"Coming in Out of the Wind"
The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back, in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind. We can only do it for moments at first. But from those moments the new sort of life will be spreading through our system: because now we are letting Him (God) work at the right part of us. It is the difference between paint which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through. CS Lewis
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27
In order to listen to Jesus’ voice, we have to “come in out of the wind.” We have to shut out all the other voices, so that we can make room for Jesus’ voice.
I have a spot in my office where I sit and attempt to shut out the other voices. Some days I am more successful than others. But I have noticed one thing…on the days that I spend time listening to Jesus at the start of the day, I find it much easier to connect with him throughout the day. I also find that I have so much more to offer to the people that I meet on those days. I feel that I can give to them more from an overflow rather than searching for something insightful to say.
Maybe you have never set aside time to “come out of the wind” and listen to the voice of Jesus. In our church foyer, we have some devotional guides that can help you get started with this kind of practice. Take one and follow it each day and see how Jesus’ voice begins to shape your day.
Maybe you have gotten lax in setting aside time for God. If so, it is time to recommit yourself to Jesus and his voice. I know that he will be pleased to see you get back to a place where you have “ears to hear” what he has to say.
