You, O Spirit of God, have made me. Your breath has indeed given me life—physically and spiritually. Just as a deep breath of fresh air refreshes the body, so a deep breath of your Spirit and all your benefits rejuvenates my soul:
I can breathe in your BLESSINGS.
“Every day is a treasure box of gifts from you, waiting to be opened”—gifts like wisdom to choose what’s best, grace to forgive all wrongs, and peace that transcends understanding.[1]
I can breathe in your RESTORATION.
“You are the divine Gardener, perfect at the task of transforming withered trees”—trees withered by discouragement, trouble, and pain.
You renew me day by day, refreshing my weary soul with your Word and your presence.[2]
I can breathe in the truth of your EXCELLENCIES.
Attentive living provides the opportunity to discover the golden threads of your perfections woven into common, everyday experience.
I see your love expressed in a rainbow, your grace in a stranger’s smile, your wisdom on a page, your joy in a butterfly’s dance, your peace in a sunset. [3]
I can breathe in the comfort of your AUTHORITY.
“[You are] the stage manager in control of all players on the stage.” You are ordering events to the conclusion you ordained before time began—by your power over all things, your wisdom in all matters, and out of love for all people.[4]
I can breathe in your TRUTH.
“The Bible is an armory of heavenly weapons, a laboratory of infallible medicines, a mine of exhaustless wealth. It is a guidebook for every road, a chart for every sea, a medicine for every malady, a balm for every wound.”
These statements only begin to name the benefits of your Word. The more time I spend absorbing its truths, the more time I want to spend. “I rejoice at Your word, as one who finds great treasure.”[5]
I can breathe in your ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.
All the difficulties of life I can view as slight, temporary distresses that are producing a transcendent Glory never to cease.
“The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth. This world is but a narrow span, and we will soon have passed it. Time, how short—eternity, how long! Death, how brief—immortality, how endless!” [6]
As tensions increase around us and around the world,
may I continually BREATHE in the realities of your . . .
B lessing
R estoration
E xcellencies
A uthority
T ruth
H ealing and
E ternal perspective . . .
. . . so that I’m refreshed and strengthened to be for the praise of your glory (Ephesians 1:11-12).
[1] Psalm 68:19; quote from Joan Clayton
[2] Isaiah 40:29-31; quote from Henry Drummond; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Jeremiah 31:25
[3] Deuteronomy 32:4
[4] Psalm 22:27-28; quote from Alice Mathews in A Woman God Can Use, p. 77; Proverbs 16:4; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Romans 11:33; John 3:16
[5] Psalm 119:160; quote from Thomas Guthrie; Psalm 119:162 AMP
[6] 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Corinthians 4:17 AMP; quote from Charles Spurgeon
Photo credits: http://www.piqsels.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.pixabay.com’ http://www.publicdomainpictures.net; http://www.canva.com
From the Inside Out 
So much solace, peace and hope in your reflection here, Nancy. I’m going to write down the Breathe anachronym so I can memorize it and take it to heart each and every day.
Blessings!
Oh, praise God you found this post worthwhile, Martha. As a blogger yourself, you know how heart-touching it is when God comes alongside as we write and creates significance for another soul through our pens/keyboards. Thank you for sharing your encouragement!
Ahhhh. Big exhale. Amid eastern Washington’s smoke-clogged skies, this quiet influx of fresh air fills my inbox. And now, my soul.
I love the photos and reminders and how you unveil the acronym, at the end—a perfect (and memorable) capstone. Sel-ah-h-h-h . . .
Thank you, Laurie. I’m honored to send you a breath for fresh, Holy Spirit oxygen!
I’m with Martha. I’ll carry this one on paper in my wallet until I memorize it. Wonderful, comforting, guiding words. Thank you, Nancy. God is great!
Praise God, Dave, for his inspiration behind the acronym! So glad you found wonder, comfort, and guidance through these words.
This was great timing for me. I am in the midst of tall Ponderosa pines and can now breathe in the air and smell the pines. I don’t study like I used to the first 45 years of my life. This may sound odd but most of the time I felt more peace in the highlands bush of Vietnam than in some churches with all the bickering and gossip. Sometimes I wanted to scream out… Read the book of James and the poetical books. I noticed in your footnotes that you mentioned Henry Drumond. He wrote a classic in 1880 on I Corintians 13 called “The Greatest Thing”. Those authors of that time period sure could make plain those Biblical Truths. Thanks for the breathe of fresh air.
You are welcome, Sam. I can see you in my imagination sitting on that deck, breathing in the crisp scent of pines, and breathing in the benefits of the Spirit at the same time!
Thanks Nancy, There is such quietness listening to the wind as it talks through the pines,
Just got back to the cabin from Gold Fort Hot Springs. They did such a beautiful job on it. 5 layers of warmth. The hot is just perfect. Learned about the place from the librarian. Thanks for your BREATHE…I can practice that as well. I need the rejuvenating power of the Holy Spirit. Keep writing. Since you like books… DH Dolman has a wonderful discussion on the work of the Holy Spirit.
Nancy, thank you for the breath of fresh air. I love the acronym, it will be memorized.
You’re welcome, Pam. Praise God you found the acronym beneficial!
So good Nancy, and I love the acrostic.
Thank you, Gary!
And breath is so intimate and life-giving. wow beautiful as usual!
Thank you, Jean. I pray you’ve enjoyed a productive day working on your book!
This is beautiful, Nancy! Thank you for sharing these beautiful thought-filled prayer, “May I continually BREATHE in the realities of your . . .
B lessing
R estoration
E xcellencies
A uthority
T ruth
H ealing and
E ternal perspective . . .”
And thank you for stopping by, Lisa. I’m so glad you found beauty here–praise God!
Lovely prose, Nancy! I love acronyms and this one is a gem. I especially needed to read about the comfort of His AUTHORITY. “[You are] the stage manager in control of all players on the stage.” You are ordering events to the conclusion you ordained before time began—by your power over all things, your wisdom in all matters, and out of love for all people.” All week I have been reminded that I am in control of very little in my life and therefore, need not fear because He IS in control. My prayer is to trust more and worry less.
During these perilous times, to be able to trust in our sovereign God and set worries aside is a precious gift!
Loved it! 💗😇👍
Thank you, Roland. Praise God for his inspiration!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful meditation. I will return to it again. I love the way you put this together…like a piece of music where every beat resounds as if being played in a magnificent cathedral. You have touched the cathedral of our hearts…with words that sing and give glory to God.
Oh my goodness, Linda. Thank you for your kind words. Praise God for his inspiration–I felt it strongly for this post!