“Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22
Breathe In
When we are in the thick of a stressful or chaotic December day, it can be nearly impossible to calm our hearts and get our perspective aligned with God’s in a tense moment. I learned a technique earlier this year when I was watching a sermon online.* It is a little prayer that goes like this:
“I breathe you in, Holy Spirit,
And your strength comes suddenly,
And your peace fills me completely.”
As I pray this short prayer, I take deep, slow breaths in and out. It is absolutely amazing how much I feel God’s peace sweep in immediately. My mind slows down enough to make wiser choices and set my focus back on God.
Pneuma
The Greek word for Spirit in John 20:22 is Pneuma which literally means “air in motion” or “breath”. This word is used over a hundred times in the Bible as the breath of life, the breath of God, the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of God.
Back to the Beginning
Think back to the very beginning of human existence…Genesis 2:7 says,
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.
God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life – His very Spirit gives us life!
Submitting to His Direction
During Keep Putting on Perikephalaia, we studied a scripture in Romans.
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
When our minds are governed and directed by the very Breath of God, we have life and peace. That is what this little prayer reminds us and how it brings us His peace when we are struggling with anxiety, confusion, or chaos.
Face to Face
In Numbers 6:24-26, God gives instructions to Moses about how His people should be blessed by His ordained priests.
“ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’ Numbers 6:24-26
Up Close and Personal
“The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” – this is not a far-away God glancing in our direction. When I looked up the words used in this verse in Strong’s concordance, the word “toward” indicates a coming upon, a super close, face to face encounter.
When we are face to face with God, He breathes out and we breathe His Pneuma in. Imagine that God is breathing His Spirit – His life and peace – into our faces. We have to stop holding our breath and breathe His Spirit in.
Action Step:
Let’s pray this prayer together:
“I breathe you in, Holy Spirit, [breathe deeply]
And your strength comes suddenly, [breathe deeply]
And your peace fills me completely.” [breathe deeply]
Your action step today is to memorize that prayer and use it liberally. Not just repeating the words but remembering that God wants to bless us as His people with His Spirit. We accept His Spirit and experience the blessing of His life and peace.
I’d also love to hear on Facebook or Instagram what you chose to be grateful for! Join in the conversation on the Devotion in Action page.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you that You are a face-to-face God. Help me to turn my face to Yours and breathe You in right in the middle of my struggles.
I breathe you in, Holy Spirit,
And your strength comes suddenly,
And your peace fills me completely.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
*Minute 33:50 in this video https://youtu.be/6MZ25xTco1k?si=EOVGY7MJrmJu1fs0
OR this video https://youtu.be/H4SIrmbdPuM?si=Ax7iEqH
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