Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:6 ESV)
"We are living in challenging and difficult times." You have probably heard this statement, or equivalent ones, with the ongoing stress of the challenges that we are all currently facing. Over the next several days, we are going to look at some practices that we can all use to reduce the stress and associated anxiety that is so common today. Today's focus is on breathing.
“Breath” in the Bible also means “spirit.” God breathed the breath of life into Adam who became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). When the people of Israel were in despair during captivity, God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry, dead bones. The Lord promised to cause breath to come into them and they would surely live (Ezekiel 37:5).
In John 20:22, after His resurrection, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit (or Breath).” The gift of life and spirit comes from breath because it represents life. Without breath, we cannot live.
So take a deep breath. Breathe in the breath of God and exhale your stress and anxiety. Let go, and let God have your stress-causing burdens. He is with you always, and always ready to carry your burdens.
“This is the air I breathe, Your Holy presence living in me…” - Marie Barnett