As I was driving home this weekend from my sister’s house, I saw a sign on the overpass with the words, “Are you breathing?”
Obviously this sign referred to the senseless death of George Floyd.
But, as I thought about it, I also realized that Covid-19 took away the breath of many people. As we all know this virus attacks the lungs, leaving its victims unable to perform the most basic of needs–breathing.
The verse that immediately came to me was:
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Genesis 2:7 ESV
What sets us apart from every other created animal? God Himself breathed into us.
EVERY human being gets their life from God.
But what do we do with that breath? Scripture tells us…
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
Psalm 27:12 ESV
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
Our country has seen so much violence over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, there are those who “breath out violence.” Anger and bitterness can breed this kind of aggression.
Forgiveness can put an end to it…even undeserved forgiveness.
Satan wishes to divide us….that is not God’s will. Yet, here we are living in a divided world in many ways, a divided country with divided families.
In John 20, Jesus met with his disciples after He rose from the grave. After He showed them His hands and feet, He said, “Peace be with you…”
…He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
John 20:22 ESV
As Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them, He spoke of forgiveness. We need filled with the Holy Spirit in order to live the life God wants us to and be able to give forgiveness as well.
\What are we to do with this breath the LORD gave to us?
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 ESV
I saw many videos of people praising God instead of the hateful, hurtful speech and actions of some. Where there is praise, the Spirit of God resides. God is the answer for this world.
We are broken.
Only Jesus can fix what is broken…
He gave us His Word that we may know Him and know His ways. It says in 2 Timothy:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV
God breathed out His Word as Jesus breathed out His Spirit on those He breathed life into. His Word with the power of the Holy Spirit can change the hardest or most wounded heart. HIs Word will teach us His ways and His will, it shows us our faults and sin, it corrects us and judges our intentions, and it trains us to be righteous and mature.
God breathed out His Word as Jesus breathed out His Spirit on those He breathed life into. #Breathe #ThisSideOfHeaven #Forgiveness
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Without God’s Word, we will not grow and mature. How can we understand His Word?
But it is the spirit in a man and the breath of the All-powerful that gives him understanding.
Job 32:8 New Life Version
Take a deep breath…because you can.
Let the Spirit of God heal our wounds as we forgive. Let us love our neighbors as ourselves.
Great word! Timely! True!
Thank you, Diane!
Thank you for this timely reminder, Stephanie! Blessings!
You’re welcome, Cathy. Thank you as well!
Amen, great advice
As the song says, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” Thank you!
Thank you for this beautiful reminder that God has breathed life into us and in us is His spirit that is kind, loving and forgiving. Blessings to you!
You’re welcome, Dorie! Thank you for your support! God is good.
Well said ma’am. A most timely reminder of who we are and who we should be representing. God’s blessings.
Thank you, J.D. This world needs Jesus.
So powerful and timely!!!
Thank you, Annette!
Thankful for the breath “ruach” that was breathed into me.
Each new day that I get to breath is a gift.
I pray I may breath deeply the breath of life that only comes from knowing the Savior!
~Ben C.
Yes, so true Ben. How amazing that the God of the Universe breathed His breath in us and continues to do so.
Such a timely dose of Truth. God created and breathes life into us. Will be breathe His breath? Or will we allow the Lies of darkness flow instead?
Yes, so true. I love how Job 32:8 says that the breath of the All-powerful gives understanding…we sure need more of that!
Thanks sis, you always hit the target. It’s just beautiful to think of being breathed into by our Almighty God!
Yes, it is Carla. Thank you!
He breathed the Word, and all the stars were born! (Psalm 33:6) We are the burning entities who reflect His glorious light into a dark and broken world. So thankful for your luminosity, Stephanie.
Thank you, Brita. I love that verse. So many talk about God’s breath!
“Where there is praise, the spirt of God resides.” I love this. Let’s praise Him with our every breath.
Yes, I agree Candyce!
Excellent word for such time as this. Thanks, Stephanie.
Thank you, Karen!
Amen, Stephanie! God is the answer for our world today. Very encouraging!
Yes He is, LuAnn. We need Him more than ever.
Every time we breathe, God’s breath infuses every cell in our body, filling us with His goodness. Thanks for the reminder. This is great.
Thank you, Irene! Thanks for subscribing, too. Glad it worked this time.