I love sailing, but I haven’t gone for a while. I started daydreaming about it earlier today; The spray in my face and the wind in my hair, My hands on the wood tiller directing the rudder, The feel of the deck on my bare feet, The sound of the wind whipping the sail, The heat of the sun beating down on my head, The gentle lapping of the water against the hull, Harnessing the power of the wind.

I enjoyed harnessing the force of the wind. It gave me a sense of power when I was able to use the wind for my objectives. I would turn the boat into the wind and move toward my goal. I was in control of where the boat went. It was a great feeling.

This reminded me of some verses in Ephesians. “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:11-16).

This seems like a sailing passage. The boat we are in is the body of Christ. Learning to live in the boat properly requires training. I need to be taught, trained and built up by the others in the body of Christ. This is the beginning of my sailing adventure, learning to work in the boat.

Next I take the faith and knowledge I have gained and steer them headlong into the wind. It is interesting that the Greek uses the same word for breath, wind and spirit. This leads me to conclude that I need to guide myself and others into the Spirit of God, by faith and knowledge. Sailing into the wind will be the fastest way to get to the destination to which I am heading.

As I sail in this way, I am on a controlled, planned course and will not easily drift away. When I do not choose to set my course in the Spirit, I can be blown all over and tossed mercilessly by the storms of life. I will be confused by those shouting directions on how to correct my course. I will be at risk of a dangerous shipwreck.

Instead, I need to head forward in the Spirit and in the truth. This helps the whole body to stay strong and head the right way. If I truly love others in the body, I must keep myself on the course. I should harness the power God has freely given to keep the boat sailing strong and safe for the Lord. I can meet the objectives he has set forth by allowing the power of the Spirit to fill my sails and move me toward my goal, Jesus.

It will be a sweet ride. It will be comforting as the Lord allows me to participate in the process, holding the tiller. It will be exhilarating as the spray of this life barely mists me, and the breath of the Spirit blows in my hair. The Son shining on me and warming me through and through will be an experience I long for and daydream about. The fact that God in the person of the Holy Spirit participates in our lives as the wind in our sails, keeping our boats moving forward for the glory of God, is amazing. This is truly something I should daydream (or meditate) about.

Thank you Lord! Let your Spirit blow strong on my life. Give me the strength to head into the wind consistently. Allow me to reach the goals and objectives you have set for me as I steer a course in faith and knowledge. Do not let me be tossed by the ideas and attitudes of the world. Let me sail for you, feeling the power of your Spirit in my life. As I travel, let it be for the building up of your body and for the glory of your name.