[9] Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” [10] So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. Ezekiel 37:9-10 NIV

Keep breathing in and out! Sometimes life becomes so overwhelming with the many ‘must do’ things on our lists. We can barely take the time to notice what is going on in us and around us. It’s almost like we become automata. We mechanically drive the kids, shop for groceries, make food, do our work, meet deadlines. In the UK right now, we have the school public examinations for our 16 year olds and our 18 year olds which are A Huge Deal. 

I can barely breathe when I drop him at the school. Although school is an easy walk from our home, but keeping him calm and exercising patience is what is called for in this season. I’m here for it! I hold my breath and control my anxiety for his sake as he tells me about the Kansas City Chiefs and the unseen poetry that he might have to dissect and he tells me things about wide receivers and lakes … He is talking a stream of consciousness that is clearly masking his nerves… 

Come, Lord Jesus

When he eventually draws breath long enough for me to reply, I tell him to breathe. Breathe in and out before you answer any questions. As you breathe in, pray “Come Lord Jesus”. As you breathe out, “help me to do this.” 

Our breath is a gift of God’s life, and as we slow down long enough to focus on breathing, we can make space for God’s life to fill our lungs and give true life to our bodies. 

At a recent asthma check, I was told that to open up the airways properly, I must take the inhaler regularly for three months and not just until I feel a bit better. The crisis of lost breath reminds me to take it, feeling better takes the impetus away.

In times of stress and overwhelm, it becomes increasingly obvious that we need the breath of God. His breath pumps life into our beings. In lazy, easy days when we feel okay, the focus on the breath is less immediate and maybe the intentional focus on the breath of God is passed over?

Receive God’s breath

Keep breathing in and out! Receive the breath of God. Allow time for all the airways in your life to be fully opened up.

Breathe life into your teens and littles, into the women around you and the men in your lives. Encourage the moments of pause to breathe deeply and allow the breath of God to fully fill the airways and oxygenate the minds of all your loved ones.

I focus on keeping breathing until I receive the text from my boy to say the exam is done and that he’s okay; that particular exhale and inhale being deep and restorative. 

Breathing is our everyday testimony of revival… Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!