Scripture: Ezekiel 37:9
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”
Thought for the Day: Let me preface this by saying that I am not a doctor, and the following suggestions are not clinically proven. Now that I have that out of the way I can move to my main point. I recently came across a number of articles about stress reduction and proper breathing. In fact, one article talked about how certain breathing techniques can add years to your life. Throughout history, religious people have focused on their breathing as a meditation practice. Others have pointed out similarities between prayer and breathing. Jonathan Edwards wrote, “Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life.” All this alongside the words from Ezekiel makes me speculate that there is an indisputable connection between God, breathing, prayer and life. Since the word for Spirit in the ancient Hebrew can also be translated as breath, I’ve got to think the very act of bringing life-sustaining oxygen into my lungs is also allowing me to be filled with the Source and Giver of Life.
Prayer: O Breath of Life, continue to sustain me in a life that respects the gift it has been given. Amen.
A wonderful and exhausting day
at the General Assembly
