Remembering To Breath

As a busy, full-time working mom, I try to accomplish as much as I can in a day. I am usually okay with the messy house, unfolded laundry and cluttered kids’ rooms from time to time. But lately, I’ve been anxious and uptight over the fact that I can’t seem to get caught up. I’ve been short of breath, suffering from headaches, body aches and restless nights. I’ve had a busy couple of weeks, but nothing out of the ordinary. My day-to-day activity is pretty routine:  I get up, get myself ready, get my children off to school, go to work for 8 hours, come home, help with homework, feed my family, do household chores, get the kids to bed, catch up on my favorite blogs, check my email and throw myself in bed somewhere around midnight, or later. And 2-3 nights a week I am at church late due to ministry commitments. This is a just a peak into my ordinary life.

Although life seems routine and ordinary to me, God wants to make it extraordinary. I think I’ve been doing the same thing day in and day out for so long, that It’s hard to see tomorrow through the eyes of expectation and hope. I already know what to expect. But am I willing to believe that even doing laundry can be extraordinary if God breathes life on it?

God is always breathing, always speaking. And He wants to come and breathe new life into me. I often forget that. And I forget to breathe. Instead, I settle for the stale air from yesterday, allowing my hope and peace to be replaced with exhaustion, frustration and defeat.

Breathing is necessary for living. And just as God breathed life into Adam, He desires to breathe life into me every day.

“then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature”. (Genesis 2:7)

I want to carry His breath inside of me every moment of every day. I breathe Him in through His Word and through spending time in His presence. But I don’t take the time to stop and take cleansing breaths, inhaling Jesus and exhaling the cares of this world. And sometimes I hold my breath, allowing contamination to build up in my spirit.

It’s only when I remember to breathe Him in that my anxious thoughts fall away.

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:19)

How about you? Are you remembering to stop and breathe Him in today? Why don’t you take a moment right now and try it. You will feel so much better!

5 Responses to Remembering To Breath
  1. Laura Rath
    January 22, 2012 | 12:18 pm

    This is a much needed reminder Barbie! When I forget to breathe Him in is usually when I’m also not making time to spend with Him…one-on-one, just Him and me. What a difference time with him makes! I’m going to think more now about pausing, taking a deep breath, and breathing Him in.

    Thank you!
    In Christ,
    Laura

  2. Susie Klein
    January 22, 2012 | 7:11 pm

    Beautiful thoughts Barbie. Another observation from my life is that the busyness is really not the issue re: time with God. My life was like yours until the last few years of empty hours and blank days. I still have to work on remembering to breath and be with Him.

  3. lindy
    January 22, 2012 | 9:51 pm

    Great post. I forget that everything can become extraordinary with God. That’s a great reminder.

  4. Nikki
    January 23, 2012 | 11:34 am

    Beautiful post as always, Barbie.
    Yes–you’re right. Taking the time to breathe Him in is crucial to my day-to-day extraordinary. Even though I know this, I sometimes neglect it…it’s so easy to do. Thank you for the reminder!

  5. Carol
    January 23, 2012 | 9:00 pm

    My favorite line – “But am I willing to believe that even doing laundry can be extraordinary if God breathes life on it?”

    Powerful. Great post, Barbie! Loved it.