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Years ago, I lived in Mississippi. It was wonderful to live right by the water. On any given day, I could go down to the docks and get fresh fish. It is a luxury that I miss now that I live so far inland. I am fortunate that there have been times in my life that I have been able to live near the water. I love the ocean, probably because my mother loved it too. We spent many times in my childhood at the ocean or fishing in the James River. Water was always involved in our vacations and our weekend getaways.

There is something spectacular about the ocean. As you drive from inland toward the water, you begin to smell the saltiness of the sea. There is a breeze that is picked up, and because of reflections from the large body of water, even the light begins to get brighter. As you travel, you know you are getting closer and closer because the environment is changing with all of the wonderful, natural aspects the water brings to the shore. For me, even to this very day, I am like a kid at Christmas. I cannot wait to see, feel and even taste all of that ocean goodness.

We can see a similar scene as the disciples do what Jesus commanded, “Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, ‘Which,’ He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Act 1:4). The disciples along with their families and followers (around 120 people) gathered in an upper room to wait for the Holy Spirit to come. The Word says it was like a “violent rushing wind,” something that you could hear and feel, and once He arrived, you could see it “looked like fire.” (Acts 2) Exciting it must have been while they waited and prayed in anticipation of what was to come!

As Christ Followers, that instruction has not changed. We still gather together and pray. The result is that we get to see what God is going to do. This week, let us not forget the Holy Spirits’ provision. God has supplied to each Christ Follower the means to fulfill the purpose God has for each one of us. God says we “…have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come…” (Hebrews 6). We can hear it, feel it, see it, and if attentive — even taste God’s goodness!

Yvette Perrin is a columnist for The Charlotte Gazette. She can be reached at theword2yvette@gmail.com.