The Holy Spirit's Winnowing Process

One morning I sat praying and mediating when the Lord spoke a single word that best describes the growing agitation in my heart.

Winnowing.

I was undergoing a divine and necessary processing of winnowing out the chaff (the superfluous and superficial things) from the wheat (the wholesome truth of God's Word).

According to Wikipedia "Wind winnowing is an agricultural method developed by ancient cultures for separating grain from chaff. It is also used to remove weevils or other pests from stored grain. Threshing, the loosening of grain or seeds from the husks and straw, is the step in the chaff-removal process that comes before winnowing."

There is nothing like the wind of the Holy Spirit to stir and sift our hearts where we may have grown indifferent, settled or comfortable with spiritual things. It's easy to get stuck in a routine and lose our passion for the things of God.

Jesus tells Peter that Satan demanded (as translated from the original) be shifted like wheat (Luke 22:31). Despite the Devil's demands this is a divine winnowing process. A process ordained by the Holy Spirit to cause purification and sanctification. The Greek word for shift means an inward agitation to try one's faith to the verge of overthrow. God is the one who oversees the winnowing process so despite the Enemy intentions of overthrowing our faith it serves to only strengthen us. That is if we are willing to undergo the winnowing process rather than resist the work of the Holy Spirit.

Peter's faith may have faltered when denying Christ but God was faithful to restore Peter. Beloved, God is for us so who can be against us - including the winnowing fork of the Devil! So our faith remains but the chaff of worldly pursuits and desires are winnowed out - blown away by the breath of God's Spirit - so only the implanted Word of of God remains in our hearts. We know the Word of God remained in Peter's life as demonstrated by a passionate love for His Savior. Gone was the self seeking, flesh driven ambitious and brash Peter but one who would lead some 3,000 souls to Christ on the day of Pentecost.

Beloved, we must ask the Lord for a willing spirit to be shifted so only the things of God remain. If we don't allow His Spirit to do the work of winnowing in our lives there will be a day when every man or woman's work will be tried with fire (1 Corinthians 3:13).

As I experience even while writing this devotional, this is a painful work but together we can draw comfort from the Holy Spirit to reminds us our faith will only be stronger and so will our devotion to Him. Our faith will not be overthrown but every work of the Devil will be thrown down by the power that flows from purified lives!