Harnessing Power

Ancient people observed patterns in weather and worked out when to plant and harvest. They discovered how to domesticate animals. Once they felt like they had some control over the physical world, they tried to manage the Spiritual world. Native Americans built dream-catchers in an attempt to capture good dreams. Ancient cultures offered up sacrifices, hoping to gain favor and influence the gods.

Modern humans have figured out ways to harness the generative capacity of nature. We build dams, hydroelectric plants, windmills, and solar panels that convert the potential energy found in water, wind and sunlight into electricity. We turn fossils into fuel, which then automates our machines. We have learned how to capture, manipulate, store, and then use power according to our convenience. And, like our ancestors, we are still trying to harness God’s power, and use it for our own projects and purposes.

“The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit." (John 3:8 NLT)

Much of what we call religion is our attempt to harness and domesticate spiritual power. We can’t devise methods to control, influence or gain favor with God. The spiritual world is not ours to manage or manipulate. Like a wind chime that tinkles in the breeze, we can merely respond to the Spirit moving through us.