Ribs, Breath and Prayer

You never really think about breathing until you can’t. Breathe. 

Last week when I was visiting my brother I got to see his son, my nephew, Michael. One of the most loving and tender guys I have ever met. His heart beats wildly for others, especially those who can’t fully care for themselves. 

The moment I saw Michael I went right up to him and he pulled me into his arms and gave me the most monumental hug I have ever received. So monumental that my rib cracked and for several loooong seconds I couldn’t breathe. I was a bit terrified until air finally filled my lungs. 

And then we went to dinner.

Needless to say, ribs take a while to heal but, fortunately, this cracked area doesn’t affect my breathing. But it has affected my thoughts. About breathing. Soon after I got home I grabbed a book that my friend, Sara, had recently given me. “Breath as Prayer ” by Jennifer Tucker. I knew when I had skimmed it that this would be a fabulous book to have nearby for the times when, as the tagline says, to calm my anxiety, focus my mind and renew my soul. All done through breath prayers. Such as…

Romans 15:13

Inhale “God of hope, I trust you”      

Exhale “Fill me with joy and peace”

Mark 9:24

Inhale “Lord I believe”

Exhale “Help my unbelief

Galatians 2:20

Inhale “I live by faith in you”

Exhale “You love me and gave yourself for me”

There are 84 prayers. But for this moment, I was looking for prayers that it didn’t have. Verses about breath. So I went to my laptop, opened up good ole reliable Biblegateway.com and found what I was looking for. 

Acts 17:25

Inhale “God gives to all”

Exhale “Life, breath and all things”

Psalm 150:6

Inhale “Let everything that has breath”

Exhale “Praise the Lord

Job 33:4

Inhale “The spirit of the Lord has made me”

Exhale “And the breath of Almighty gives me life”

As I pray these verses I find myself focused on the life-giver and the breath-giver, my wonderful Ruach (the Hebrew word for God which means spirit or wind). I’m thinking it might be a good idea to breathe deeply now whenever I pray. Because there’s something very, well, literally, life giving when you breathe deeply as you talk with God. Breathing in his word and exhaling his love, peace, faith, joy, hope. Life.