Sometimes there are things which catch my attention, that will not let me go until I contemplate them.   It can be a word, image, phrase or idea.  Lately, the phrase that is stuck in my mind is Breath of God. And so, I ponder it.

From the very beginning, our breath has been a gift. “And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7

All throughout scripture the breath of God is synonymous with life.  Here are some excerpts:

• …nor is he served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since he himself gives to all people life and breath and all things… Acts 17:25
• For as long as life is in me, and the breath of God is in my nostrils… Job 27:3
• The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the almighty gives me life. Job 33:4
• Thus, says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it…Isaiah 42:5
• If he should determine to do so, if he should gather to himself His spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. Job 34:14-15

The breath I breathe is the very essence of God poured into me.  It literally keeps me alive. So, when a virus like Corona comes along and attacks the respiratory system, I wonder why is that?  Why does this virus behave so differently than others?  Most start in other places in the body and then infect as they go, but this one moves straight to the lungs. I pay attention to the details of how it travels and where it ends up.

In the details, I recognize the handiwork of the enemy.  An invisible disease, that spreads without knowledge, and targets the very breath of God. He has always been one who is set to kill, steal, and destroy whatever is valuable to God.  He knows we are the apple of God’s eye.  It is just like him to literally try to squeeze the life out of us.  It is a bold strategic move on his part using the element of surprise.

I have found that many times, what is happening physically has a spiritual parallel.

Then 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.’” So, I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet a vast army.

Ezekiel 37:9-10

I am back to the story of the dry bones.  There is no life.  No breath in the bones.  They are dry.  Tired. Weary.  But God speaks through Ezekiel and they come together. They take shape and rise from their resting place, but it is not until he speaks to the breath that the life returns to the bones. The breath of hope restores the pulse.

Spiritually, we are dry.  We are weary.  The enemy has stolen our breath.  Just like the physical attack on our lungs, he has launched a spiritual attack on our hearts. For years, he has been squeezing the life out of us. It is his way, to spread disease without our realizing it.  He has been actively undermining our faith. Chipping away at our beliefs that God is good; that God is for us; that we need God in our lives.  He has been sucking the life from us, until we are dry bones, spiritually tired without hope.

But now, the enemy of our souls has gone too far.  His strategy is going to backfire.  I can see it.  By squeezing the breath from us physically, he will ignite our faith.  He will unknowingly spark our will to live and wake us from our slumber.  And now the breath of God will bring resurrection.  Fresh life.

I speak God’s words to your breath.  In this crisis, His breath says to ours,

“I am bringing you up from your grave.  What is your grave, My Child?  Depression?  Anxiety? Fear? Hopelessness? Joblessness? Anger?  Bitterness? Illness? Death? What is it that holds you to the desert floor without hope?

I am speaking life!  I am breathing air into your spirit.  I am breathing hope into your heart. Get up! Rise up! I am speaking to your breath.  Can you feel my breath in you?  Feel hope rising, and love coursing through your veins.  You will stand.  You will walk.  This crisis is not going to take you out. It is not going to squeeze my life from you.  It cannot.  You are not forgotten.  You are not abandoned. I will use this to restore your breath.  Your spirit will rise from its grave.

Breathe in.  Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.

You will have a new view on life.  You will see.  What has held you down, will no longer have a hold on you.  I will bring you back to life.  My spirit will dwell inside of you.  My glory will shine around you.  You will know that I am God.  You will know I am for you and with you.  I choose life for you.  Breathe it in.  Can you feel it?  I am speaking to your breath…Breathe! Live!”