A Second Breath

Photo by Marc Sendra martorell on Unsplash

Breathing is the source and sustenance of living. When breath is gone, there is no life. More than once in Natalie’s cancer treatment, oxygen was provided to assist when she was too physically weak to breathe. It was always accessible at the head of the hospital bed, a hand reach away. We can’t live without breathing. 

Given by God, breath was breathed into humankind at creation. 

One day the Eternal God scooped dirt out of the ground, sculpted it into the shape we call human, breathed the breath that gives life into the nostrils of the human, and the human became a living soul. Genesis 2:7

Given by Jesus, a second breath was breathed into humankind at redemption. 

Now He drew close enough to each of them that they could feel His breath. He breathed on them: Welcome the Holy Spirit of the Living God. John 20:22

As real as our physical need for breath, so is our spiritual need. In Jesus’ words, we need to experience a second birth. A second breath of life. 

I tell you the truth; only someone who experiences birth for a second time can hope to see the kingdom of God. John 3:4

Just as a deep breath invigorates our physical life, so is a deep breath of the Holy Spirit to our spiritual lives. 

Tired? Anxious? Running on empty? Here's to living our best and breathing deeply. 

For in him we live and move and have our being.