Day 1: Genesis 1 & 2; Matthew 1 & 2:1-12; Psalm 1: 1-6; Proverbs 1: 1-6

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (GEN 2:7 NIV)

Breath. So simple and involuntary. Try not breathing for more than a minute and your body will be screaming at you for air. Continue to ignore those signs and you will eventually pass out, allowing your body to involuntarily force you to breath and supply it with the vital oxygen it needs. We can live without limbs, various organs, even missing sections of our brain. But every single one of our systems needs oxygen, needs breath, to continue working, sustaining, thriving. God breathed into Adam the foundation of life, and we carry that foundation to this very day.

A few years ago when I was obtaining a certificate in Spiritual Formation, I remember we practiced an exercise around breath prayer. It was simple: you asked the Lord for the words to pray as you sat in silence, eyes closed, breathing in (prayer), breathing out (prayer). I asked the Lord what he would have me pray as my breath prayer, and immediately I was gifted with a simple saying. “Abba Father (breath in), take me deeper (breath out).” This continues to be my breath prayer to this day, and reminds me of the promise the Lord gave me when I asked for those words. He wants to take me deeper: he wants to sustain me in ways I cannot fathom. Father God wants to take me to the depths of my faith, then sink me deeper. It’s beautiful and terrifying all at the same time. We know that growth comes with sacrifice and pain. And yet, he is gifting me with the promise of depth in him. I am inspired and humbled every time I declare it.

What is the Lord revealing as your breath prayer today? If you’ve never considered this, sit back in your chair, close your eyes, and for a few minutes breath, inviting the Holy Spirit to come into your space, sit with you, and connect with you. As you breath in and out, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your breath prayer. You may feel something immediately; if so, thank God for this gift and be sure to take note of what it is and what it means to you in that moment. Or you may need to return to this again at a time when you are able and open. But the Lord desires to give you tools that open you up to Him and His heart for you.

Today I’m reminded that every breath is a gift from God, a physical sign of his goodness to me. I pray that you sit back and consider this as well, ad we breathe in the breath of God, our eternal Heavenly Father.