To Be One With The Air

"Wings of Eagles" - pencil sketch

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

Have you ever watched a bird catch an updraft? Rick saw one the other day and told me how the bird was just flying along, then it turned into the wind, leaned its wings back and whoosh - it went straight up. Amazing! As Rick spoke, I imagined what it would be like. So, here I am writing where that little thought took me.

Imagine the intimate relationship that a bird must have with the air. The bird in flight is completely dependent upon or subject to air currents, wind speed, updrafts, and all things air. Imagine being suspended in the wind, far above the ground, surrounded by nothing but air. Upheld by nothing but air. Birds must be aware of every fluctuation in pressure, direction, and speed. They know how to use it to their advantage. For years, I have watched birds gather in trees, on high wires, and on the ground just before a cold front or a storm arrives. They do so because the air pressure is so low, that flying is too difficult and exhausts them. They know days in advance of the storm's arrival. If you watch the birds closely enough you can predict the weather. They live in the weather, so they know. They also know how to conserve energy by riding air currents. I guess you could say that they rest in the air. If they need to move higher, they just catch a current and let it lift them.

Do you get the picture? Can you see how intimately connected the birds are with the air? Then, let's make some connections.

Point 1: The birds live, move, and have their very being in the air. They are intimate with it.

Point 2: Acts 17:28 says, "For in Him we live and move and have our being..."

Point 3: In the New Testament, the word Spirit (as in Holy Spirit) is translated from the Greek word pneuma, meaning "a current of air, a breath (blast), or a breeze."*

Now, imagine what it might be like to be as intimate with the Holy Spirit as a bird is with the air. I think that was God's plan for sending Him to us. Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7) He knew that we needed the Holy Spirit in order to have this intimate relationship.

Maybe you're thinking it's harder for us, because we don't live with Him the way the birds live with the air. To that I say, it's our choice whether we do or don't. A bird can choose to hop around on the ground its whole life, but that leaves it vulnerable and weak. Perhaps it's scary for them to take to the air the first time. They only learn to fly by flying - in the air. We are meant to live in Him. We are meant to know in advance of a storm's arrival. We are meant to rest in Him. We are meant to be lifted higher by Him. We are meant to live and move and have our being in Him.

So, how do we do that? I believe that the key is to be continually mindful of Him. Scripture study, prayer, praise, and worship are part of that, but not all. Be thankful for what He has blessed you with. Learn to keep Him in your thoughts throughout your daily activities. If you have a problem, ask for His wisdom. Talk to Him about your work, your family, and your life. Think of Him as someone right next to you throughout your day. You will be amazed. The Bible tells us that the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to a friend (Ex. 33:11). That is the intimacy of which I speak.

Finally, one more tidbit before I go. A word study of Isaiah 40:31 revealed that the Hebrew root of the phrase "wait upon" means "to bind or twist together."* That sounds very intimate to me.

But they who are bound together with the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Remember, you can only learn to fly by flying.

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Lord, I hunger for intimacy with you. Please, teach me to fly in Your Spirit.

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* Definitions are from Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.