POST 40: Connecting with God’s Presence Anytime
POST 40
Connecting with God’s Presence Anytime
Did you know that most of us don’t breathe properly?
We tend to breathe shallowly and rapidly through our chest and shoulders, which doesn’t provide the ideal amount of oxygen to our brain and body. Instead, the best breathing uses the diaphragm (so that your abdomen moves out as you inhale and in as you exhale) at a rate of about six to eight breaths per minute.
Try breathing like this for a few minutes:
How did it feel to breathe with your diaphragm?
Think about this: each breath you’ve taken today—and every other breath you have ever taken—is a gift from God. One of God’s first acts of love toward us is to give us life and breath.
Genesis 2:7 tells a story about God creating the first human and breathing life into his nostrils. Not only would humanity carry God’s image into the new world, but we would also bear God’s breath in our lungs.
That means God is as close as our breath. So maybe all we need to do to remember that God is with us is to stop and take a deep breath. Breathing is a sign of belonging—a reminder that God is near.
Someday we’ll take our last breath, and none of us know when that day will be. In between, whenever we breathe in and out, we’re experiencing God’s presence in a small way.
READING GOD’S WORD
The LORD God formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life’s breath into his nostrils. The human came to life. (Genesis 2:7)
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21 NRSV)
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Journaling Questions
When do you think you do your best breathing? When is it hardest to breathe well?
Is it easy or tough to sense God’s presence when you focus on just breathing? Why do you think that is?
What does having the presence of God with you mean to you?
Pray This Prayer
Creator God, thank you for making me and giving me your own breath to show that I belong with you. Remind me of this belonging and of your presence as I breathe in and out today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
SOMETHING TO TRY
Christians have used “breath prayers” through the centuries, combining breathing and praying (pretty obvious, right?). The idea is to say the first phrase of the prayer breathing in, the next phrase breathing out, and so on. One of the most common breath prayers is called the “Jesus prayer,” which is sometimes shortened like the second or third lines:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.
Lord, have mercy.
Try saying this prayer as you breathe in and out, at home or on the go.
THE TAKEAWAY
God’s own breath is in your lungs. Breathing is a sign of belonging.