THE BREATH OF GOD
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:7
God breathes. When He does, life erupts. Adam was just a physical man, made of the dust of the ground. He was not a spiritual being until God moved from on high. Adam’s soul would not be made of earthly materials. It would come to life only by a God-breath.
· Job knew it. He said, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4
· Ezekiel knew it as God said, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may life.” Ezekiel 37:9 In a vision, nearly dead bodies came to life, stood on their feet, and became a great army.
· The world at the end of the tribulation will know it when the two witnesses, the prophets Satan kills, come back to life with a breath. “But after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.” Revelation 11:11
· The disciples knew it. When their souls were despondent after the crucifixion of Jesus, He appeared, told them to be at peace, and then breathed on them. “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21 They went from there to burn brightly for the kingdom.
· And we knew it at the time of salvation. God breathed over us and our spiritual blindness was cured. We looked up and saw a Savior; we looked inside and saw our sin. “Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:5
The breath of God is a source of spiritual renewal. Our spiritual fathers knew it. They made breathing prayer a way of life. As they inhaled, they prayed ~ “O Lord Jesus,” and as they exhaled, “Have mercy on me.” In 2008, I made this breathing prayer a part of my life.
Just this morning, I had the privilege of speaking to our congregation about our prayer ministry. Knowing that I needed the favor of God’s presence and blessing, I prayed all morning, “I breathe deeply of you.” I was aware of my breathing, physically and spiritually, and felt in tune with the Spirit by the time I was to begin speaking.
I think of the phrase ‘the living dead.’ It refers to the meaningless existence of a person who is technically alive but soulfully checked out. That never need describe any child of God. The Spirit of God, the breath of God, is within us. He longs to rise up and infuse us with eternal life. The outgrowths are security, calmness, spiritual power, and the feeling of being wonderfully alive. Many are waiting for heaven to experience the abundant life but it’s a breath away.
I look to no one else for life. I feast on Your Word. I drink of You deeply. I breathe of Your Spirit. So breathe over me. Amen.
For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org
Originally published Friday, 17 January 2020.
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