Sounds


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
May 27, 2009

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. –Romans 15:13 NIV

There is something special about crossing the bridges to the Outer Banks and rolling down the car windows. The sounds of the Outer Banks are varied and part of what makes the area so unique. Even though development has increased at record speed, it is still a place where quiet reigns. And only then, can we hear the rustling of the grasses on the dunes, the sounds of a flock of birds flying overhead or sand pelting the windows in a strong wind. I can always tell the temperament of the ocean before I see it by the sound of the waves coming ashore. There’s excitement in hearing a boat engine warm up in anticipation of a day on the water. Families laughing and enjoying one another during a winter walk or on a hot beach day is the sweetest sound. But amazingly, it is the stillness, the solitude and the serenity that draws me in. It’s on the Outer Banks that the voice within can especially be heard.

The voice I am talking about, the sound deep inside of each of us is the Holy Spirit. In our busy lives and the busy world we live in, the voice often goes unheard. But we should train ourselves to listen. The Holy Spirit is a part of us and lives within us. Warnings and words of protection are given to us, too. The Holy Spirit will nudge us to stop something we are doing, or give us a green light to “go ahead” with our plans. Have you ever had the strong urge that seemed to come out of nowhere to get up and go check on something? It’s not a big voice. Most times it is a whisper. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will communicate to us through our emotions. Feeling jittery or unusually nervous or apprehensive about something could be a sign we need to change our path or adjust the timing of what we are doing. On the other hand, feeling sure, confidant and at peace lets us know we can forge ahead. When I need to choose my words carefully, I will pray that the Holy Spirit will give me just the right ones. And he does. The comfort that comes with knowing that God is abiding in us through the Holy Spirit is the greatest joy and a wonderful gift. The Holy Spirit is our rudder. He steers us if we let him. Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. -Acts 2:38 NIV