Inhale, Exhale
Have you ever watched a baby sleep? As their bodies surrender to stillness, a gentle sense of calm and peacefulness is reflected in their bodies and sometimes on their faces. That simple act of rest is a reminder for me about the power of God’s gift, the breath of life.
The breath has power and there’s a rhythm and a flow to it. As a wellness professional and yoga instructor, I talk about the breath a lot and most of what I’ve learned about breathing has come from the word of God and confirmed through science. I believe that the breath unlocks the door to spiritual awareness, and God starts this process in the womb.
Did you know that mothers breathe for their babies while they are in the womb? During their time in the womb, babies practice breathing while their lungs are being developed in preparation for birth. That moment when all those in the room wait in anticipation for those strong lungs to let out a loud cry to indicate… LIFE!
From that point forward, we embody the gift. Second by second, moment by moment we inhale and exhale consciously and unconsciously. But, the breath is more than just the flow of oxygen; it is the vehicle by which God provides us with the following:
HIS PRESENCE
When God formed man from the dust in Genesis 2:7, God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. We move and live with a daily reminder of God’s presence every time we take a breath. His presence flows through us, giving life to our body, soul, and spirit. On a deeper level through prayer and meditation, we are able to not only cherish the gift of God’s breath on a physical level, but we are able to feel and sense His presence on a spiritual level as well. In John 4:24, we are reminded that God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. As God’s greatest creation, we are built for spiritual worship and that type of worship starts with a spiritual awareness found in reverence of the breath.
HIS POWER
The breath, like all of God’s gifts, is full of power. In Proverbs 18:21, we are reminded that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Words riding along the flow of your breath holds power and with the gift of free will, we can choose how that power will be directed in our lives based on what we speak. When God spoke “let there be light”, there was light. That same power to speak life resides within us when our breath carries words from a place grounded in faith.
CHANGE
Created in God’s likeness, we possess power through God our Father and power can bring about change. In our physical bodies, we were created with systems that allow us to receive and to release. Our respiratory system is designed to take in oxygen and to release carbon dioxide. Our human design is divine indeed! We are change agents here on earth equipped with the ability to receive something and to change it into something useful for others.
Did you know that our moods and attitudes are reflected through our breathing? Your breath may be short and choppy when you are anxious or upset. Or, maybe your breath is shallow when you’re sad. When we are more physically and spiritually aware of how we breathe, especially during difficult situations, we have the power to shift. We can change our perspective and sometimes our mood and attitudes in that very moment through conscious breathing.
CONNECTION
As a child in the mother’s womb, the breath is a mysterious and divine connector to our Creator and to the universe. As God’s earthly creation gives us oxygen, we receive it, transform it and offer our gift of carbon dioxide to the earth. In Genesis 1:26, God granted man dominion over the earth and that responsibility includes care and connection. God created us with connection in mind and the breath is a constant reminder of that connection. The connection is life and is life-giving to others.
Consider how you’ve been breathing lately and take a moment to try this spiritual breathing exercise. As you breathe in slowly through the nose, consciously envision you breathing in God’s presence and exhaling doubt. Slowly inhale the power of your breath to carry your prayers to feet of Jesus. Consciously exhale fear – the image of it and the energy of it. Slowly inhale your God-given ability to change or shift your perspective or feelings and exhale worry. Slowly inhale your ability and desire to connect with God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, earth, and others, and exhale isolation.
Remember, breathing is needed to live, and how you live is rooted in how you breathe through life.
Sherrell Moore-Tucker is a Wellness Professional, Writer, and Registered Yoga Instructor with the National Yoga Alliance and Holy Yoga Ministries. Sherrell provides wellness services which tend to a person’s spiritual, mental, and physical well-being while providing accessible tools for managing stress. Join the movement and learn more about how to “Breathe in, Stress Out” at www.sherrellmooretucker.com.
Life is hard and we can easily get bogged down in all the negative situations that pervade our lives each day. However, the Bible teaches us to live from a place of thanksgiving, despite our circumstances. How do we successfully choose gratitude when we daily face challenges, negative media, and secular mindsets that are contrary to our biblical training?
Did you know that there are many benefits to adopting gratitude as a way of life? As you begin to take on a mindset of thanksgiving, you may start to curb negative thoughts, eliminate anxiety and even diminish depression.
There have been moments in my life where I could feel the presence of peace. Sometimes, I sensed it when worry was suddenly replaced with calm. Sometimes, I feel enveloped in it like a coat. And, other times, it’s like fresh oxygen and I breathe much easier.
Determination and persistence are your best friends. When I chose a car seat, I wanted one that I thought was safe (and cute!). My husband wanted one that was safe (and cheap!).
I picked out my daughter’s daycare months ago, so when I was offered a job, I went in just to do a run-through, meet her teachers, etc. Quite a few things were not to my liking, but I was running out of time; most places had year-long waiting lists, and I had already told my husband the price, so anything higher was going to cause him to raise a few eyebrows. What am I going to do?
I recall, some years ago, my electricity being turned off. I’d made an arrangement for an extension, but when the bill came due, I didn’t have the money to cover it.
See, so often, we treat God the way I treated my daddy. We don’t tell Him, with the hope that we can fix it ourselves. The problem is, sort of like my dad, God already knows what’s going on.
When I was a kid, one of my favorite non-toy toys was my Mom’s handheld counter. I don’t know if I liked the clicking noise, how that noise aggravated others lol, or if I simply enjoyed the anticipation of seeing the next number appear.
Have you been feverishly counting the number of times someone offends you, ready to cut them off at 491? “Sorry, your forgiveness card has expired.”
Are you waiting for the perfect season, non-busy week, or ideal day to begin a fitness routine? Have you found yourself in Scarlett O’Hara’s shoes saying, you “will think about it tomorrow?” 
When a work schedule changes, when a child begins a new extracurricular activity, or when responsibilities at church or a community group are added, it often requires us to re-evaluate how to continue to prioritize exercise. If you aren’t healthy and energized, your mental, emotional, and physical energy will suffer.
So, I was watching 
Have you seen the movie? If so, you know what came from that and if not, well, eventually she couldn’t take it anymore and she answered “the call”. Not without problems or opposition, but she answered. 
Recently, my husband and I celebrated our 10th anniversary with a vow renewal before friends and family. It was a beautiful ceremony and celebration. As we reflected on our past years, we remembered taking the step to get married while others scoffed at our decision. We were young in age, young spiritually, financially growing, and in the process of life. People said we should wait until we had more. But, we were more concerned about being right in the eyes of God than abiding by the opinions of man. We loved each other and were willing to take on the challenges of natural growth.
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So, how are you to decipher what is the best way to eat for your body? Well, James would recommend we start by asking the God of the universe. He’s the Creator of all things good, including our taste buds.
