Lord, Make Me a Sailboat

 In the world of ministry, churches can be powered by personalities, programs, and profit margins more than the power of God. Just like a power boat with an engine. You put fuel in the engine and the motor ;can power through the waters wherever you please. This is not the case for a sailboat. A sailboat is completely dependent on the wind to move. 

My prayers is to be more like a sailboat. To hoist the sails of my pastoral and preaching ministry waiting on the wind of God to blow with power. Without the Holy Spirit I am absolutely and completely powerless. With the Holy Spirit blowing through the sails He can accomplish great things. I can do nothing without Him. [Jn 6:63] [Jn 15:5] 

Waiting on the wind of the Spirit to blow is both exhilarating and frustrating. Exhilarating in the fact that when He moves great things happen. People get saved. Lives are changed. Disciples are made. Churches and communities are transformed. The frustrating part comes when you wait for extended periods and that power is not displayed. Even though patience is listed as a fruit of the Spirit, many get impatient and want to make something happen. They implement a new program. They employ a new strategy and focus. This does not ensure the wind of the Spirit will blow and move powerfully. 

At this stage of life and ministry, I can see the futility in programs. I prayerfully hoist the sails and wait on the Lord to blow to propel me forward. To blow life and power into the preaching. To blow conviction into the lost who hear the message of salvation. To blow fire on the cold hearts of believers who have lost their first love. To blow peace on the anguished souls. 

All fleshly efforts will not profit spiritually. Talent, expertise, and creativity will not produce lasting fruit without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will. He is the source of power. [Acts 1:8] I want to tap into that power so God gets the glory. He alone empowers to produce abundant fruit that will last. His work endures. My sails are hoisted. I wait for His wind to blow. 

One other note, we do not know what direction the wind will blow. We may predetermine a course and He blows in a different direction. It is up to us to readjust the sails and go in the direction He propels us. That may mean charting a whole new course we had not planned on taking. God knows best. We can trust His leadership. So we hoist the sails and stay in His flow. Blow O wind of God and propel further than we can every take ourselves.