You Are MORE than the Air I Breathe!

It was 94 degrees outside today.  But I couldn’t stop thinking about snowflakes.

Not that I was wishing for them.  A cool breeze would have sufficed.  But it was a particular quality of snowflakes that kept “sticking” to my mind.  Just like a snowflake might stick to my head.

Each snowflake is unique.  Totally, completely one-of-a-kind special.  With all the many snowflakes that have fallen, and are falling and will fall, why would You make each one so different, Lord?  Just because You can?  Just to “wow” us — to our knees — with Your incomparable creativity?

I’m beginning to think this is the way You want to encounter me every morning, Lord.  In some incomparably creative way.  Each day, totally unique and one-of-a-kind special.  If only I am willing…

Case in point.  Yesterday morning.  I was drawing near to You, quieting my mind… and suddenly, I became very conscious of my breathing.  Deep breath in.  Hold.  Deep breath out.  From my gut.

Then, my mind got in step with my breaths… as if they all knew they were destined, yesterday in particular, to dance.

Breathe in Your Spirit — Breathe out my fleshly desires.  Breathe in conviction — Breathe out double-mindedness.  Breathe in forgiveness — Breathe out my guilt.  Breathe in sound thinking — Breathe out confusion.  Breathe in confidence — Breathe out uncertainty.  Breathe in Your acceptance — Breathe out my shame.  Breathe in Truth — Breathe out lies.  Breathe in Faith — Breathe out fear.

I’m beginning to understand, Lord.  Breathing — this thing I do all day every day without thinking — can become another way of making myself conscious.   Conscious of what fills me with more of You and draws me closer to You. Conscious of what keeps me empty and distant from You.

Breathe in surrender — Breathe out rebellion.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.”  (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Will I do this every morning now, like a “one-a-day” spiritual vitamin?  Actually, I hope not.  Then it would become rote, a ritual to follow instead of a real encounter with You, Lord.

I want to discover each and every unique and creative way You want to communicate with me!  To be surprised and delighted in Your Presence… so my time with You and my attention to You stays vibrant and fresh every day!

“Give me this day my daily bread…”  (Matthew 6:11)

The portion of You, Jesus — the Bread of Life — that I need to satisfy me.  To nourish me.  To fuel me for whatever plans (or interruptions) You have in store for me!

You, Lord… The One who spoke the universe into being.  The One who breathed life into all of mankind, myself included.  The One who made a billion trillion stars and named each one.  The One who has already made more snowflakes than could ever be counted, and who painstakingly hand-craft each one like no other.

This is what I want, Lord!  This is how I long to encounter You every day!  A little “wild” and totally unpredictable!  Thank You for “whetting” my appetite yesterday… so I will salivate for more!  One more step on that journey of more than a thousand miles…

“I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 3:13-14)

Meanwhile, I breathe…  Breathe in expectancy — Breathe out doubt.

Abba’s Girl

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