“I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak…My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” Daniel 10:16b, 17b-19
Do you forget to breathe? In times of distress, I find myself not breathing. A dear friend told me during a particularly difficult season of life, “Don’t forget to breathe!” How right she was! When we are going through trying times, we often forget to inhale deeply. Ironically, that’s when we need it the most…long, deep breaths, in and out. Breath that relaxes us. Breath that takes the focus off of the source of stress. Breath that indeed gives life.
All through the Bible, there are dozens of verses that speak to breath and breathing. God breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). At the other end of life, Jacob, the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel, “breathed his last and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 49:33). God breathed on creation and powerful events happened. In Exodus 15:10, the power of God was displayed when He blew on the Red Sea causing Pharaoh and his men, who were chasing the Israelites, to drown. In the New Testament, the risen Jesus breathed on His disciples to give them the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).
In the book of Daniel, in the 10th chapter, the prophet sees the incarnate Christ and almost faints. His strength leaves him and he can hardly breathe. Unlike Daniel, when my strength leaves me and I feel I can hardly breathe, it’s not because I’ve encountered the risen Christ. But rather it’s because I focus on my circumstances, often running ahead of them to some worse-case-scenario outcome. I feel overwhelmed. And I forget to breathe.
The angel Gabriel revives Daniel with his touch, giving him both strength, courage, and peace. If I stop to breathe, to really inhale deeply, perhaps simultaneously praying or meditating, even for a few minutes, my soul revives, my anxiety melts, and my courage returns. All because I remembered to breathe and I, like Daniel, am touched by the Spirit of God who gives me strength, courage, and peace.
When you are facing stressful circumstances, don’t forget to breathe! God’s power can manifest itself in you when you take a few minutes to breathe, relax, and regain your strength.
Lord God, You alone have the power to give me strength, courage, and peace. May I remember to breathe in Your Spirit in the midst of difficult circumstances. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
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Copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Do you forget to breathe? In times of distress, I find myself not breathing. A dear friend told me during a particularly difficult season of life, “Don’t forget to breathe!” How right she was! When we are going through trying times, we often forget to inhale deeply. Ironically, that’s when we need it the most…long, deep breaths, in and out. Breath that relaxes us. Breath that takes the focus off of the source of stress. Breath that indeed gives life.
All through the Bible, there are dozens of verses that speak to breath and breathing. God breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). At the other end of life, Jacob, the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel, “breathed his last and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 49:33). God breathed on creation and powerful events happened. In Exodus 15:10, the power of God was displayed when He blew on the Red Sea causing Pharaoh and his men, who were chasing the Israelites, to drown. In the New Testament, the risen Jesus breathed on His disciples to give them the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).
In the book of Daniel, in the 10th chapter, the prophet sees the incarnate Christ and almost faints. His strength leaves him and he can hardly breathe. Unlike Daniel, when my strength leaves me and I feel I can hardly breathe, it’s not because I’ve encountered the risen Christ. But rather it’s because I focus on my circumstances, often running ahead of them to some worse-case-scenario outcome. I feel overwhelmed. And I forget to breathe.
The angel Gabriel revives Daniel with his touch, giving him both strength, courage, and peace. If I stop to breathe, to really inhale deeply, perhaps simultaneously praying or meditating, even for a few minutes, my soul revives, my anxiety melts, and my courage returns. All because I remembered to breathe and I, like Daniel, am touched by the Spirit of God who gives me strength, courage, and peace.
When you are facing stressful circumstances, don’t forget to breathe! God’s power can manifest itself in you when you take a few minutes to breathe, relax, and regain your strength.
Lord God, You alone have the power to give me strength, courage, and peace. May I remember to breathe in Your Spirit in the midst of difficult circumstances. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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