Some friends and I just had a conversation about how challenging it is in this hurried life to take time to slow down and just breathe. Take a minute and join me. Take a deep breath through your nose, filling up your lungs. Hold it for a few seconds, then exhale through your mouth, letting the air flow out all the way down to your toes. That wasn’t hard was it? Yet we don’t give ourselves permission to pause. We are beginning to realize that the frantic pace we continue to keep is coming at a great cost to our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. In his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer says:
“If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you have to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus… He offers his apprentices a whole new way to bear the weight of our humanity: with ease. At his side. Like two oxen in a field, tied shoulder to shoulder. With Jesus doing all the heavy lifting. At his pace. Slow, unhurried, present to the moment, full of love and joy and peace. An easy life isn’t an option; an easy yoke is.”
I remember when I was young and it seemed that the summers lingered. There was something so special about catching fireflies and playing outside, laughing with friends until the streetlights came on and you knew it was time to go home. I know that time is still flowing as it always has, from the beginning, yet when you take the time to savor something, it just seems to last longer. It requires an intentional choice of being in the moment, instead of allowing my mind to be thinking ahead of what is coming next.
This is a life-giving key that we are missing in the rush. God our creator has woven into the fabric of creation times and seasons. In his design, he intentionally inserted times of rest and refreshing. Recently, he reminded me of his desire to just be with me as I read Psalm 25:4-5 in the Passion Translation,
Direct me Yahweh, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you. Escort me into your truth; take me by the hand and teach me. For you are the God of my salvation; I have wrapped my heart into yours all day long!
The commentary about this verse says that the Hebrew word most commonly translated as “wait” (wait upon the Lord) is qavah, which also means “to tie together by twisting” or “to entwine” or “to wrap tightly.” This is a beautiful concept of waiting upon God, not passively, but entwining our hearts with him and his purposes. This is the picture that I am holding in my heart as I sit and breathe. I am intentionally entangling into the love and life of God and allowing his breathe to fill my lungs as it was in the beginning and is still life-giving today.
Then 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,
(Genesis 2:7, NLT).
Steps in Pursuit
- Take some time this week to soak in the presence of God and engage deep breathing. Find a comfortable place, close your eyes, and breathe deeply through your nose, filling your lungs with air. As you do this, think or say: “I’m in you.” Hold that expansion for a few seconds, as you think or say: “You’re in me.” As you exhale through your mouth: “I abide.” Do this at least 3 times to engage more deeply. Feel free to use the wording you feel most comfortable with.
- Psalm 46:10 in the Passion Translation says: Surrender you anxiety! Be still and realize that I am God. I am God above all the nations, and I am exalted throughout the whole earth. The word anxiety can also be translated “let go” or “relax”. This is a great verse to pray over yourself and your family.
“God, we surrender and let go of all anxiety that we feel and relax, knowing you are God over all.”
- Practice savoring moments, intentionally being aware of God’s presence, as you enjoy time in nature or with family and friends.
Breathing is something we do all the time without thinking about it. But breathing with intentionality and awareness of the presence of our loving Father takes practice. So just breathe….
Continue the Pursuit,
Denise
