WEDNESDAY'S WORD - BREATHE - 08/29/18 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure." - Oprah Winfrey       I can't count the number of times I've sat down to journal and the first words the Holy Spirit had me write were... Breathe, Sadell... It's crazy that one of the main things that eludes us when we're overloaded, overwhelmed and anxious is the simplest and most essential thing - the ability to breathe. Physiologically, BREATHE means to take air into the lungs and then expel it. Figuratively, it means so much more: to be or remain alive; or to say something with quiet intensity. Plants breathe by exchanging gases.  Wine breathes when it is exposed to fresh air. Your lawn breathes when it emits air or moisture. Horses breathe when allowed to rest from exertion. It seems the whole world needs a moment...and so do you and I. To 'breathe freely again' means to relax after having been frightened or tense. To 'breathe new life into' means to fill with enthusiasm and energy. To 'breathe a sigh of relief' means to exhale once you realize that everything is going to be ok...and it is! With everything going on in your life, take a moment right now to just breathe.   In Genesis 2:7 God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul." This lets us know that it is God alone that gives us life and animates us to feel and experience it. Job said, "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." (Job 33:4) The LORD has the power to restore, renew, revive, and resuscitate. When the Prophet Elijah was led into the valley of Dry Bones the LORD gave him this command, "Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.'" No matter what you may be facing, the LORD can re-invigorate you. We can ask Him to breathe, even into seemingly dead situations. So many times we've thought we were going down for the last time, or we've seemed completely out of strength; yet here we are, still alive- breathing in and out. I sense that breathing is getting a little easier now, glory to God!   Breathing deeply brings a sense of calm. As we slow down and gratefully reflect on God's goodness and grace, we gain much needed perspective and are emboldened to face another day. Marcus Aurelius said, "When you arise in the morning, think about what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."  Breathe in, breathe out, and move on.