Petra - Voice In The Wind Lyrics
Lyrics
Words and music by Bob Hartman
Based on John 3:8
Wind may come, wind may go
Where it blows noone knows
Chill the bone, fan the fire
Lead the soul to hearts desire
(Chorus)
There's a voice in the wind that calls your name
If you listen you'll never be the same
There's a voice in the wind that points the way
Gently beckons to follow and obey
Spirit comes, spirit goes
Whence it comes noone knows
Giving life, making new
Filling hearts, calling you
Video
Petra - Voice in the Wind
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on January 1, 1985, as part of the album *Beat the System*, Petra’s "Voice In The Wind" stands as a powerful testament to the mysterious yet undeniable working of the Holy Spirit in human lives. Drawing its core inspiration directly from John 3:8, the song masterfully translates profound theological truth into an accessible, compelling anthem of divine invitation and transformation. It bypasses any need for elaborate musical complexity to deliver its vital message, prioritizing spiritual substance over mere sonic appeal, ensuring its relevance far beyond the era of its release.
The song begins by setting the stage with the enigmatic nature of the wind: its origins unknown, its effects diverse—chilling bones, fanning fires, even stirring the soul’s deepest longings. This imagery, rooted deeply in the biblical metaphor presented in John 3:8, immediately connects the physical phenomenon of the wind to the spiritual reality of the Holy Spirit. Just as one cannot predict or fully comprehend the wind’s movement, so too is the Spirit's work a sovereign, uncontainable force, moving where it wills and impacting lives in ways that defy human explanation. This serves as a foundational understanding that the divine presence isn't always neatly packaged or easily understood, yet its power is undeniably real.
At the heart of the song is the profound declaration that "There's a voice in the wind that calls your name." This is not a random whisper but a personal, purposeful summons from God himself, extended through His Spirit. It is an invitation so potent that to truly engage with it promises a radical shift: "If you listen you'll never be the same." This echoes the transformative call to repentance and new life found throughout Scripture, where encountering the living God fundamentally alters one’s trajectory. From the prophets to the apostles, a divine call always precedes a profound change, demanding a response that reorients existence around God’s will.
This divine voice doesn't merely call; it also "points the way," gently beckoning individuals to "follow and obey." Here, the song moves beyond initial conversion to the ongoing journey of discipleship. The Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus in John 14:26 and 16:13, acts as a guide, counselor, and teacher, revealing truth and leading believers in paths of righteousness. This guidance is not forceful but a gentle, persistent persuasion, inviting a willing obedience that springs from a relationship with the divine rather than mere duty. The Spirit illuminates the path, clarifying God's will and empowering the believer to walk in it.
The second verse further deepens the understanding of the Spirit’s work, articulating that "Spirit comes, Spirit goes, whence it comes no one knows," reiterating the sovereign and mysterious nature established earlier. This mysterious Spirit is shown to be the very source of new life and transformation: "Giving life, making new, filling hearts, calling you." This powerful description directly reflects passages like Ezekiel 36:26-27, where God promises a new heart and a new spirit, replacing the heart of stone with a heart of flesh, enabling obedience to His statutes. It also speaks to the profound spiritual rebirth described in Ephesians 2:1-5, where individuals dead in sin are made alive with Christ through grace. The Spirit isn't just an external guide; it indwells, revitalizes, and continually calls individuals into a deeper relationship, filling their hearts with divine presence and purpose. This filling is an ongoing process, a continuous invitation to draw closer to the source of all life and truth. The voice in the wind, therefore, is an enduring call, a perpetual invitation to experience the transformative power and living presence of God's Spirit in every moment of existence.