Doug Creamer: Praying for a breeze

Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 15, 2017

I love to be down at the beach…OK, most of us do. It’s relaxing. It’s stress-free. It’s so nice to be near the water, listening to the surf. People enjoy all kinds of activities down on the sand. There is volleyball, sandcastle building, tossing a Frisbee, shell hunting, walking and running — just to name a few. Then there are the water activities like body surfing, boogie boarding, skimming, jumping in the waves and fishing. There are so many great things to do at the beach it’s no wonder people want to live there.

Both my sisters were lifeguards at the beach. They could tell you all kinds of stories about porpoises, jellyfish, rip currents and rescues. They knew how storms — even ones far out to sea — could have an impact on the waves at the beach. They explained to me that sometimes the water along the shore can be warm and then one day without notice change and become cold. They told me when that happens it can take several hot days to warm the water back up.

The shoreline is always changing. Water is a powerful force of nature.  One storm can create dunes and deposit sand in all the wrong places. The next storm might create inlets where the road used to be. Moving water can destroy anything in its path.

One of the days we were at the beach this year the air was very still and the ocean was flat. The waves were very small and calm. Another day we were walking the beach the breeze was blowing from the northeast. While the air temperature was about the same, it felt so much cooler with the air coming off the water. The interesting affect to me was how much bigger the waves were and how choppy the ocean was. That little breeze was having a big impact.

That cool breeze kept blowing through my mind as I walked the beach that day. If that little breeze could have such a big impact, then what kind of impact might a heavenly breeze have on our nation? We all know it takes a move of God’s Spirit to bring about revival. I wonder what our part is in helping to bring about a move of God’s Spirit?

We know that when the Spirit of God moves people will get saved, healed, delivered, restored, and set on the right path. I have witnessed God moving in many church services in my lifetime. I have seen Him touch and change people. I’ve seen children whose whole personality changed. I have seen alcoholics become sober and restored to their families. I’ve seen people physically healed and one friend restored to complete health after a heart attack.

We know what God’s Spirit can do, so what does He expect from us? The most important thing we can do is pray. A change of wind from heaven requires saints to spend some quality time on their knees. I believe there are many churches and individuals crying out to God to bring revival and renewal to our land. Our unified hearts in petition can move His heart.

We also play an important part in sharing our testimonies with those who are lost. Some people believe we should preach about hell’s fire to scare the lost into belief in God. When I reflect on my own conversion and that of many others, I believe we are drawn to God by His love. I think most people know they are sinful; they need to hear about the hope of redemption. They need to know about God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness.

When you think about it, sin is a selfish act. We do something we want to do that God said not to do. God wants us in His presence but He can’t abide with sin. It takes the blood of Jesus to make us worthy to be in God’s presence. This free gift is available to all. We have to learn how to share this great news in a way that attracts the lost. I believe love draws more people than fear.

            I want to encourage you to join the prayers that will bring the breeze of revival to our land. God’s Spirit will ultimately do the work but we have an important part to play through prayer and sharing our story. God needs people to love the lost, not accuse them. He needs people who will share the hope that will bring redemption. Do you feel a fresh breeze blowing from heaven? I think I do!