Breath

Breath

Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

EYES CLOSED, I sat in the cozy orange chair in my living room while I inhaled deeply, held my breath, then exhaled slowly. After repeating the action for a few minutes, I reopened my eyes and returned to my tasks feeling both calm and energized.

Several months earlier, I had noticed that practicing simple breath exercises helped calm the anxiety that tugged at my brain. I’m not alone: studies have found that a breathing practice is effective in fighting anxiety, depression, and stress, and even incorporating a single breathing practice can significantly reduce blood pressure. Our breathing pattern (how quickly or slowly we breathe) can also influence the emotion we experience. That’s astounding, considering that the average person takes 17,000 breaths every day. We can go about three weeks without food and three days without water, but only about three minutes without air. After just a few minutes without oxygen, our cells begin to die.

Breath is essential to life, but it’s also a gift from God. Consider the words of Genesis 2:7: “The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” Through breath, God created life. We breathe in oxygen, which our bodies need to survive. But it’s also true that our breath is a metaphor, a way for us to remember how the spiritual corresponds with the physical: when we breathe in God’s truths, we can exhale the lies the world tries to feed us. When we inhale peace, calm, and rest, we can exhale turmoil. In this way, the spiritual air we breathe in throughout the course of the day has a direct impact on the state of our heart and mind. Let’s take those 17,000 breaths as opportunities to intentionally breathe in the truth and love of God.

Lord, thank you that you breathed life into us. Help us to slow down and breathe in your presence. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Find a cozy spot to sit and take a few minutes to breathe deeply. As you do, inhale God’s truths and peace and exhale any lies or turmoil you feel.