Windtalkers

On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a devastating surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. Thousands of American soldiers and civilians were killed. The Pacific Fleet suffered crippling losses of ships and airplanes.

To make matters worse, as the war progressed it became evident that the Japanese knew every move the United States military was going to make before they made it. We were losing battles because the enemy already knew our plans.

The problem was that many Japanese soldiers had been educated in American schools and spoke fluent English. Since they knew our language, they could easily decode our military orders and set up plans to defeat our troops.

And they were destroying us.

Then William Johnston, a civil engineer and a World War I veteran, had this idea: What if we used the Navaho language for our orders? What if we used a language so rare and unique that the enemy could not decode it?

The U.S. military recruited native Navahos to send and receive coded messages using the Navaho language. The enemy tried, but they couldn’t break the code. The tide turned. We started winning battles and, as you know, we won the war.

These brave Navajo men were called “windtalkers,” and their unknown language turned into a secret weapon that was a huge part of defeating the enemy and bringing victory.

Perhaps you are facing battles in your own life. Perhaps it looks like you can’t win, like you will never be victorious over your circumstances. Take heart, because God has a secret weapon for you!

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He said He would send back a secret weapon (see Acts 1:8). That secret weapon is the Holy Spirit, who provides the power needed for us to defeat the enemy. Here’s what happened to the disciples when the Holy Spirit filled the Upper Room:

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

A mighty wind filled the room. The Spirit came upon them. They opened their mouths and began to speak in an unknown language. They became windtalkers.

The new language was given by the Holy Spirit to defeat the power of sin and Satan. It was a unique language—a language Satan could not understand.

And no, it’s not nonsense. It’s not gibberish spoken by crazy fanatics. Rather, it is the power of the Holy Spirit, praying through you, in a language the enemy cannot decode, cannot destroy, and cannot defeat. It brings victory into your battle.

For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding] (1 Cor. 14:2 AMPC).

When you receive and speak this heavenly language, you aren’t talking to people; you’re talking directly to God. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, you pray secret truths and hidden things. The unknown language is a secret weapon giving you the power to defeat the enemy and win your battles.

You may not know the solution to your problem. You may not know how to win the battle you are facing. Don’t despair—just lean into the Holy Spirit and your heavenly language:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Rom. 8:26-27).

Hallelujah! Even when we don’t see the path to victory, we can pray about our situation and be assured we are praying the perfect will of God—if we will let the Spirit take over. We may be confused, uncertain, and perplexed, but when we pray in the Holy Spirit, a clear voice goes out and makes intercession for us according to God’s will.

What battle are you fighting? Are you feeling defeated by addictions, financial problems, or struggles with your marriage or your children?

Maybe you’ve been trying to fight your battles on your own—and failing.

The blueprint for victory is through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s time to fight with the Spirit. It’s time to become a windtalker.

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