Sometimes life does not go according to plan. Actually, I would be remiss not to say that life usually does not go according to plan. Job changes, illness, car trouble, or even travel plans can change on the fly. My family and I just came back from an amazing half-week trip to the beaches of Southern California last week. Although this trip was planned at the beginning of the year, we did not expect various astronomical and meteorological events to coincide in mid-June, thus rendering the beaches dangerously unpredictable.
Red Flag Warnings dashed our family’s dreams of fun in the sun and frolicking in the waves, with one of the main culprits being king tides, an unscientific term for an event meteorologists call the perigean spring tides, which occur when the proximity and alignment of the sun and moon work in concert to gravitationally pull the ocean’s waves to the highest of highs.
The more under the influence of these celestial bodies the waves are, the more powerful they become. Which made me think about humans and the Spirit’s influence over our lives. While the Earth’s bodies of water cannot resist gravity, nor the cosmic dance of planets, humans can, and do, exert control over which influences they fall under. Ignoring God’s voice and resisting the Spirit’s direction for our lives can rob our existence of meaning, impact, and power. And if I’m being honest, my spiritual life can look more like a stagnant, algae-infested pool than the breathtaking, roaring waves of a coastal shore.
Being great for God, doing good works in His name, and living a blessed life of meaning and impact is not about trying harder or performing more perfectly, but rather, about being closer and more influenced by Him. The more we submit ourselves to the voice of God and the leadings of the Spirit, the more we are influenced and empowered by them. The Apostle Paul beautifully shares about the transformation that occurs when one listens to and submits to the Lord:
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (TPT) says, “But the moment one turns to the Lord with an open heart, the veil is lifted and they see. Now, the “Lord” I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever he is Lord, there is freedom. We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
As we give proximity to God and allow Him access to our hearts and minds, the more we can reflect Him to a world that so desperately needs His light and love. The gravitational pull of the Holy Spirit not only rescues us from our own self-destructiveness but also helps realign our path forward. Just as the celestial sway of the moon contributes to the crashing of waves, Heavenly forces can also influence our direction if we allow them to. Where would you like to increase your impact? Where do you need more meaning or direction? How can you increase your proximity to God? How can you allow Him more access to your heart and mind?
If we want to truly live a life worth living, we must make God the King of our tides.