Prayer for Breath

I grew up around water and learned to hold my breath underwater as young child. I’ve done free diving for a long time but about seven years ago I decided to get certified as a Freediver. I have been able to hold my breath for 3+mins since I can remember but I learned some techniques in the certification course and can hold it for longer now. I’ve also been a certified suba diver for 35 years and the first thing you learn in scuba diving is to NEVER hold your breath. When you’re underwater on a scuba tank you’re breathing air under pressure. If you hold that breath and come up to a lesser atmosphere with less pressure that air in your lungs keeps expanding and can rupture your lungs if you don’t exhale. So it’s two very different approaches to experiencing the world underwater as an air breathing human.

Of course, I see some spiritual parallels here. I think about my normal day to day life and then I think about times I’ve been in difficult seasons of life. I realize those different times require different approaches to how I connect to that encouraging “breath of life” from God. Normal days are like spiritual Freediving. I try to start every day with some time spent reading scripture and praying. When I do it’s like taking a deep breath of the Peace of the Lord and it sustains me for a little as I descend into the pressures of a normal day. As the pressure gets greater I realize I can’t stay in it as long without coming back for a breath. When I’m in a season like right now where there doesn’t seem to be any escape from the pressure I need a spiritual scuba tank. I need to never stop breathing in the peace of the Lord. I need to constantly be inhaling the breath of Life through music, scripture verses, and, of course, prayer. I find I have to constantly“exhale” the thoughts and fears and constantly inhale the Peace of the Lord. I’m thankful that His spirit can always be with us even in the midst of deep pressure. I pray that you will keep exhaling all the worldly pressure and keep inhaling the Breath of Life. Hopefully, you’ll realize that by maintaining that constant connection with the Lord you can withstand the pressure and perhaps even explore new opportunities. Amen!