In the spirit-realm as in the natural, there are laws by which energies operate. Gravity, velocity, thrust and lift, for a few examples, will operate with reliable intensity given the same conditions. They are natural laws. In the spiritual realm there is faith, hope, unbelief, vision, love, joy, peace, speech. These are some of the principles which will work effectively and reliably as well, when put to use.
One principle for using these might be termed the Law of Maximum Swoop. Picture a pinwheel – why does the slightest breeze make it move? Its blades are shaped first to catch the greatest amount of wind per square centimeter, and second to channel it directionally for maximum power. Third, the blades are made of the lightest material possible. The end result is an efficient toy to respond to a child’s breathe with ease.
There is a spiritual equivalent to this, if we liken ourselves to a pinwheel. The wind is like the Holy Spirit. Jesus likened the Holy Spirit to the wind, a powerful force which cannot be seen with earthly eyes, only felt and heard. Wings of birds and airplanes catch it and soar. We have to keep our own wings open to receive it. sing the pinwheel illustration, our blades must be open.
It starts with faith, the leaning of our entire human personality on Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness. (See Colossians 1:4 AmpC)
After this, comes opening the mind to the Bible. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” Prov 3:4. But you lean instead on God’s truth and God’s perspective on things, the Bible, as the definitive, trustworthy, accurate Word of the living God through Christ.
Finally, we become a human/divine hybrid by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. What the Bible calls a “new creature”.
From this strong foundation, we can use many tools, such as prayer, including our powerful heavenly prayer language, meditation on the Word of God, and fellowship as ways to expand our ability to receive. We can eliminate distractions. Our hearts stay tuned to the *KOG channel through our ears and eyes, reinforced by our mouth, and by the choices we make of what to read, what to listen to, where to work and recreate.
In this process, we are not only receiving, we will also be giving, often inadvertently, by setting an example, or deliberately by our words and actions.
To increase our responsiveness, we need to stay featherlight in terms of the weight of our lives in the natural (like the featherlight blades of a pinwheel). Not that we cannot enjoy things, possessions, relationships, this is not about asceticism. We are meant to be abundant in all good and healthy material blessings. Rather, the weight of our possessions is determined by our focus. As we first seek the Kingdom of God, all things are always being added. The burden is light. We need not fear lack or want. On the other hand, if we start to seek things for the sake of things, or relationships for the sake of relationships, it becomes a heavy yoke.
The world doesn’t value maximum swoop. It thinks it’s strange that you don’t chase after goods and physical pleasures, pursuing them as a primary objective. Relationship is defined by sharing this pursuit. As you age, the world reasons, the pursuit is directed toward creating a legacy for one’s children.
When we become a new creature, our definitions change. We find far more pleasure in that which has eternal value. This doesn’t eliminate having fun, being responsible with money, enjoying earthly pleasures or leaving a legacy. In fact, it incorporates these in a healthy way, one that brings no sorrows. Priorities are aligned by a divine perspective.
The world thinks it’s crazy to ignore or make of lesser importance earthly pleasures and treasures in favor of seeking to save the lost, spiritual encounter, growth in God’s Word, and relationships based on Christ. But really, it’s crazy not to. There is one who invests in eternity, and one who squanders their time on temporal things. Who is really crazy here?
Maximum Swoop is my whimsical term for full surrender and diligent application of the Word of God. The desired outcome is the realization of the unseen into the seen, a wonderful experience often described as breakthrough.
*KOG=Kingdom of God
Author Danyelle Read 