LET IT FALL

In winter here in Mobile, there's always that sense of anticipation. The possibility of snow, rare though it may be, creates excitement. We never know when it will come, but when it does, our yards are quickly blanketed in a layer of pure white. It is a beautiful sight, but it's also fleeting. The snow falls covers everything for a while, and then, as temperatures rise, it melts away, leaving no trace of its presence.

This fleeting nature of snow makes me think about something deeper—the way believers are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul gives us a simple yet profound command: "Be filled with the Spirit." Looking closely at the original Greek, we find that this command isn't a one-time event like snow falling and covering the ground just once. Rather, it is a call to keep on being filled—a continual, ongoing process.

Being filled with the Spirit is not like the snow that falls, covers, and melts away. Rather, it is like the snow that continues to come down, layer upon layer, never losing its presence. Just as snow falls continuously when the conditions are right, we too should seek to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It is not a one-time event; it is a lifelong journey that occurs day after day, moment after moment, as we remain open and receptive to God's presence in our lives.

Now, consider something else snow brings with it: footsteps. When we walk through a fresh blanket of snow, we leave behind a visible trail of our journey—impressions that mark our path. Those footprints don't disappear immediately; they stand as a sign of where we've been, the direction we are heading, and the marks we leave behind. Similarly, as we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He leaves a trail of transformation in our lives—a visible imprint of Christ's presence and work in us.

Every time we choose to walk by the Spirit, we leave behind footsteps of grace, love, and holiness. The more we are filled with the Spirit, the more His presence in our lives shapes the path we walk, leaving marks of His influence that others can see. Just as snow blankets everything in its path, the Holy Spirit fills every part of us, transforming not only who we are but also how we move through the world and where we are going.

This transformation is ongoing. The Spirit doesn't come and go like a snowstorm; instead, He fills us repeatedly, shaping us, renewing us, and covering every part of us with God's power and presence. Like snow that blankets the ground, the Spirit is meant to envelop us in all seasons, providing the purity, peace, and presence of God in every corner of our lives.

The beautiful thing about footprints in the snow is that they do not just disappear—they remain for a time. Even after the snow begins to melt, the impression of where we have walked can still be seen. So, it is with the Holy Spirit. The transformation He works in us does not fade away quickly; it leaves lasting evidence of His work in our lives. And just like the footprints that lead others to follow in our path, our lives—filled with the Spirit—can lead others to follow Christ.

So. as we watch and wait for more snow to fall, let us also watch and wait with open hearts, ready to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit, knowing that this filling is not just a momentary experience but a lifetime of growth and renewal. And just as snow brings beauty and transformation to the landscape, the Holy Spirit brings transformation to us, making us more like Christ each day.