If you don't remember anything else you read today, remember this - when you are faced with a situation or season that takes your breath away, Breathe! Just as we must breathe in air to be alive physically, we must also breathe in God, in order to be alive spiritually. We are not just the physical bodies we live in. More importantly, we are a spiritual being, and we're reminded of this in Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life". Are you in a season of breathing? Think about it. Are you having to breathe through the pain or disappointment of circumstances? Or perhaps you're in a season of pain or disappointment right now? Maybe, it’s just that you’ve lost your passion, motivation or desire, and it seems like you have to intentionally inhale each breath you take. Well, I want to encourage and empower you today. In Ezekiel 37:5 the Lord says "Look, I am going to breathe into you, and make you live again!" One thing that stands out to me from the book of Ezekiel, is that the word 'sovereign' is used to describe the Lord almost every time He speaks. Sovereign! Sovereign means to possess supreme or ultimate power. God was establishing Himself, because, during this time people had other idols that they were worshipping. But, God said I am the ultimate, the supreme God! What this means for us is this - the One who is higher and more powerful than any one or thing is telling us, "Look, I am going to breathe into you, and make you live again!" We can trust that! Why?! Because of who is saying it! The Sovereign Lord! What peace and hope that gives us!
Breathing goes largely unnoticed in our day-to-day lives. But, it is essential to life! And the same goes for our Spiritual ives. If life has taken your breath away, you have got to breathe! I want you to do something with me really quick. Listen to your breathing (Close your eyes, if you'd like). Just breathe regularly, no need to take deep breaths. As you're breathing, I want you to put at the forefront of your mind what ever it is that has caused or is still causing you anxiety, stress, heart break, depression, confusion, anger, bitterness...you get it. Whatever has come your way that has taken your breath away. We're just breathing. Now that you've acknowledged what has taken your breath away, we're going to switch our focus. Continue to breathe. I want you to go back to listening to your breathing. As you listen to your breathing, think about the promises that comes with each breath. I’m not talking about promises to the physical body. I’m talking about your inner self. The promise of hope, peace, and restoration that God gives you with each breath you take. Just think about that. Let it settle. Because if life has hit you as hard as it’s hit me, you might find that hard to believe. There is a promise from God of hope, peace, and restoration with every breath you take. Ok, open your eyes! When life takes your breath away, Inhale the only thing that can bring back life! God breathes life into your body, your situations, your marriage, your finances, your friendships, your children, your job, your failures, your disappointments, your fears, your everything!! When God created man, Genesis 2:7 tells us this "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". But it doesn't stop there! God didn't just breathe into us once, He's continually breathing life into us. He is near us for a reason! He's our life support! But, we must inhale! Breathe Him in! He is the equivalence of air to your spirit! So remember, when you are faced with a situation or season that takes your breath away, Just Breathe! Speak God's Word into every dead situation, every pain or disappointment, and call it back to life! Breathe Him in, and you will live!
Ezekiel 37:9 - “And 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.”
