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Listen while you read: "Hosanna Loud Hosanna"1
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Ezekiel 37:5-6 – Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live … and you shall know that I am the Lord. (ESV)
When my daughter Sarah was born, x-rays revealed that she was missing a lung and needed the assistance of life support to breathe. The doctors gave her ninety percent oxygen to keep her alive in an incubator. After surgery to move her intestines out of the lung cavity and to close her diaphragm, a miracle occurred in response to prayer, and x-rays revealed a healthy second lung. I describe this experience in my blog.
Most of the time, we take our breathing for granted, for we do not have to consider each breath. Breathing is automatic until we run out of breath or suddenly find breathing a struggle.
Our spiritual breathing can be just the same when we take it for granted. Without the routine of prayer, reading the Bible, and listening to God via the influence of the Holy Spirit, our faith will die, although Jesus is always faithful.
In breathing, we take in enough oxygen to keep the body working, and we dispose of the toxic carbon dioxide. The same sort of process is true for our spiritual life. Being a Christian is having the capacity to breathe in God's influence through prayer, reading the Bible, and listening to Him, and then allowing Him to highlight and remove the crud: sin. What we take in and what we do in our lives makes the difference between being vibrantly alive and being just lukewarm as Christians. Jesus warns, "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16 ESV)
In Hebrew, the word for breath is transliterated as ru'ach, meaning wind, breath, mind, or spirit. To Nicodemus, Jesus said:
John 3:8 – The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (ESV)
Jesus breathes out the Holy Spirit to enable us to grow in the assurance of His love for us and to aid us in doing so. Maybe you are a new Christian needing spiritual life support, learning how to grow in Christ. Maybe you are an old Christian who has been through the mill and feel aggrieved with Jesus because life is not going the way you wanted and, frankly, not what you thought that you signed up for.
When the people of God ask, we are given the Holy Spirit and the freedom to listen to His whispers in our minds. Where we travel with Jesus is a lifetime exploration through the life-giving influence of the Holy Spirit. Talk with God, and let the Holy Spirit breathe upon you!
Prayer: Lord, come to us, cleanse us, speak to us, because without the influence of Your Spirit in us, we are doomed to misunderstanding for ourselves, and for those we interact with today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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About the author:
Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Send your feedback to the author
Thanks for the encouraging words, Rod.
Excellent word today, Rod.
Blessings.
Thanks Rod. I appreciate your words.
(B.C.)
What a powerful testament Rod. Thanksgiving and praise.
WOW! What a story Rod and reinforced by the rest of your devotional.
Thanks.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. To God be the glory! Blessings.
Thanks, Rod, for your excellent words today. Yes, it is so important in our daily lives that we not only breathe in sufficient air, but also take in an abundance of God’s word & His directions.
Blessings for these writings you prepare and deliver to us.
Dear Rod, Praise God for the way He miraculously has touched your children Zoe and Sarah!
And I say Amen to your devotional today!
I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit, and His daily breath and empowerment in my life.
Hope you are feeling better. Amen.
Dear Rod,
Thank you so much for your absolutely wonderful, inspiring devotional. It has really touched my heart. I feel so blessed by the story of your dear daughter Sarah.
Blessings, Joy, Gratitude, Laughter,
(Canada)
Roderick,
Thank you so much for sharing today’s devotional! You really help us to refocus on how close God is and how the Holy Spirit is always here to guide us. I think we all need a reminder of how loving and trustworthy God really is.
May God richly bless you.
Good morning
Thank God for the new lung!
My sister is on oxygen since her lungs are diseased. It is a struggle to do anything without her levels going down.
Have a blessed weekend.
Dear Rod,
Thank you for your devotional today reminding us of the work of the Holy Spirit in our minds and hearts. I also appreciated your prayer and praise the Lord for your faithful witness. I am amazed at how the Holy Spirit nudges and speaks as I read the Word, meditate, and pray. I trust that many can and will be blessed by your insights and words.
I attend a small weekly Bible study.
Last week, we had a discussion about the Holy Spirit, and this has been on my heart, and especially all day yesterday. And then, this morning, there was your devotional!!! I will read it (slowly and loudly as three of our group of six are in their nineties)..
Thank you so much.
(Ontario)
Hi Rod,
It is wonderful that all worked out for Sarah and your family. I loved the title “Breathing”. I use the breathing exercise when I am struggling, and I might have to do quite a few times, but it works for me. I like your statement “Talk with God, and let the Holy Spirit breathe upon you!” It is so true when we do the work to stay in touch with our Lord and the world does look like a better place.
Thanks for sharing from your experiences and remind us all we have less misunderstandings in our lives when we are connected to our God. Blessings.
Thanks, Rod, for this encouraging devotional — right on target.
Thank you, Rod, for this good message. What a miracle at your daughter’s birth! Living with asthma, and now COPD, I do value my breathing, but it took a long time to seek out the Breath of Life – the work of the Holy Spirit – in my life. What a blessing that has been and is.
God bless and keep you and your family, and happy Easter!