The Wind in My Sails. Where is the Holy Spirit taking you?

The Wind in My Sails

Pastor Calvin Cook

October 2, 2025

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” — John 3:8

Recently I was passing by the lake and moving through the water was a personal sail boat.  Just one person in the boat adjusting the sails and moving through the water. A sailboat without wind is powerless. It may float, but it cannot move forward.

In the same way, our lives as believers are meant to be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit becomes the unseen wind that fills our sails and causes us to move forward into God’s purposes. Sometimes His leading feels like a gentle breeze nudging us forward. Other times it comes like a rushing wind, shifting our direction suddenly or filling us with a boldness that can only come from Him.

There is nothing about God, and three distinct personas of the trinity that we can leave out of the equation that will multiply our life as believers, lovers, and followers of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We have to acknowledge the God of all creation, receive Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior of our life leading us into a life of discipleship. Without surrendering to the Spirit we just become vessels that do not move forward and become stagnant in our faith.

Surrendering to the Spirit is like adjusting the sails. We don’t control the wind, but we can position ourselves to catch it. When we resist or keep our sails down—through fear, stubbornness, or distraction—we miss the very force God has provided to move us. But when we open our hearts in trust and obedience, He carries us further than we ever could on our own strength.

Acts 1:8 reminds us “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”  Can we even begin to imagine to imagine what could happen if we as individuals, families, churches, communities, could experience if we surrendered to this move of God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Where are you? Are you just drifting along – or – are you raising your sails to catch the power and authority, but mostly the direction the Holy Spirit will guide you to.

Praying – Lord, fill the sails of my life with Your Spirit. Teach me to trust Your direction, even when I don’t see the whole course ahead. Help me to adjust and surrender so that I may be carried forward into Your will. Let Your wind, unseen but undeniable, move me into deeper waters of faith, service, and love. Amen.