Breathing as a Spiritual Practice

Scripture teaches that Christ not only created all matter (John 1:3; Heb. 1:2-3) and holds it all together, sustaining it each moment (Col. 1:16-17, Heb. 1:3), but that he then became matter in the form of a man (John 1:14)- forever uniting himself to all of it (Col. 1:19-20).

The implications of this are astounding, for if Christ was not actively sustaining everything, it would all cease to exist. But I want to briefly focus on one way to take this giant idea and use it as a spiritual practice.

If Christ is sustaining everything- including you- each moment, you can take each breath as a gift, each heartbeat as a gift, each moment as Grace extended to you from the hand of your heavenly Father. 

Try it.

As you breathe in and out, become aware of how God is choosing you each moment. God is choosing to sustain you in this breath... and now in this one... and now again in this one. 

Notice how the life-giving Spirit fills your lungs, pumps your heart, creates electrical connections in your brain, sustains your being with his breath of life- each moment. 

This is the love of God, the presence of God, the Spirit of God, closer to you than your own breath. Simply becoming aware of this is one way to "rejoice always, pray continually" and "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thess. 5:16-18). 

All is Grace.

Selah.