Sometimes I think it's easy to forget and take advantage of the very basics in our lives, like breathing, being able to eat, hear and think. We run about our days so busy on auto-pilot until we finally have a moment to relax and just breathe. Recently, I was reminded of the very gift of breath in my lungs when I was hit with a severe bout of bronchitis with a very deep croup-like cough which kept me in a constant state of gasping for air more days and nights than I was ready for. Even though the oximeter read 99 oxygen saturation, it felt like 0 to me. It's awfully scary when you can't catch your breath.
Over and over again for days I desperately called out for my Lord's healing touch and breath in my lungs as I pushed through the night in fear of not being able to breathe. But the very moment I cried out for His Breath in my lungs and His Mercy on my life the fear began to subside as I grasped a bit of ease, then rest, feeling nestled in His Loving embrace. His Peace came over me like a warm blanket. I knew Jesus was with me and loved me.
This was humbling to me to sit at my Lord's feet in the middle of the night and listen to His loving correction and insight regarding my words and attitude towards others. Like watching a movie I was convicted. It is such a gift when Jesus stops everything for us, to stop us dead in our tracks long enough that we might listen to his voice. He paid such a high price on Calvary just to reconcile us to the Father and longs to see us free from the deeds of the flesh and to be more like him. He is always working in our lives. This is the loving Truth of God.
When fear strikes, and sin is revealed we can catch His breath and live freely. There is nothing more comforting to me than to know I am right with my Lord, and that my ways are pleasing to Him. With a past saturated with abandonment and rejection, I know I can walk safely in His presence before my enemies.
The prophet Isaiah spoke of the sins of the children of Israel, in their misery they were slaves to their sinful ways until God the Father made a way to reconcile them back to Him.
"In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil makest himself a prey (an easy victim): and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore HIS ARM BROUGHT SALVATION unto him; and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, it sustained him. For HE PUT ON RIGHTEOUSNESS as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and He PUT ON THE GARMENTS OF VENGEANCE for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west , and his glory from the rising of the sun.
WHEN THE ENEMY SHALL COME IN LIKE A FLOOD, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST HIM. AND THE REDEEMER SHALL COME TO ZION, AND UNTO THEM THAT TURN FROM TRANSGRESSION IN JACOB, SAITH THE LORD. Isaiah 59: 13-20 KJV
These words are meant to comfort us, in that while we groan in this life, in struggles to do what is right, in sickness or otherwise, He loves us and is compassionate towards us. He will see us through.
In this present time, while we wait for Him, let's sit at His feet, listen, and catch His Breath when we can't catch our own.
On a journey of Healing and Hope with you,
Terri Lynne