Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Blend all my soul with Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
I can hear the voices in the tiny Methodist church. The organ droned while my mother’s fingers gave life to the piano. I was proably standing in between my Paw-Paw and his best friend playing both of them for the best candy hidden in their shirt pockets. I don’t remember if Paw-Paw sang the words. He always said he had a hole in his bucket (which he did.) But I remember Louise Morton singing her heart out in the choir, a little off key, but full of joy and faith.
This memory and hymn have come to my mind often lately. I have been praying for the Lord to settle my nerves and focus my priorities as I’ve begun to prepare for meetings with agents and publishers in three weeks. When the knot begins to form in my stomach and my mind chases itself in circles, I began to pray for peace, and I find myself hearing this tune and praying for the Lord to breathe on me.
God’s breath is life giving: “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7).
When God breathed on Adam He gave him life, but when Jesus breathed on the disciples cowardly hiding for fear of the authorities, His breath gave them more than life, He gave them the peace of the Holy Spirit. “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me to you, I am sending you.’ And with that He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21,22).
Life. Peace. Holy Spirit….. Responsibility
I’m often praying for the breath of God breathed on me to receive His peace and be filled by His spirit, but today I realized that both the breath of God upon Adam and Jesus’ breath upon the disciples filled them and prepared them for responsibility.
Adam was told to take care of the animals and the earth. The disciples were being sent out to preach the good news of Christ.
I confess the desire for peace without responsibility. But if I desire the breath of Jesus on me, if I desire the Holy Spirit, I should realize that with the life-giving Spirit in me comes an assignment. Yet I know, if I’m filled with His Spirit, the assignment will be accomplished by His grace and power. Not mine. Thus I’m filled with peace. Hallelujah!
I pray you experience His breath today. Hands raised. face lifted, and hearts ready to receive! Be filled with His peace and His purpose.
Much love,
andy
ps. Thanks so much for your prayers! I can feel them!
