I walked along our country road wondering, thinking about, “What is the breath of God?” Ruach. Beside me fallen leaves rustled and swirled in a gentle breeze that escorted me on my path. I watched and listened, thankful for the cooling of the breeze, pondering the movement of the leaves that seemingly came alive, yet in reality were dead.
Can We Know the Breath of God?
The leaves had fallen — a sure sign of fall.
Their color was gone now. They were dry and brittle.
And yet the leaves danced in the wind — moved by the powerful breath of God.
Ruach.
The breath of God. His Spirit. His spoken word.
When God spoke, His breath escaped His lips with every word and a billion stars were born, the moon and the stars were hung in place.
God spoke again– ruach — and the earth was formed, His breath traversing across every nook and cranny, vegetation, and creature, bringing life.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
Can you imagine the Lord molding Adam’s body from the dust of the earth, cupping his lifeless face in His hands, and breathing life — His Spirit — into Adam’s lungs?
What a tender moment of a Father’s love!
Ruach.
Can the Breath of God be Both Powerful and Tender?
If we listen, we will hear His still, delicate whisper deep within, speaking to our deepest needs, the breath of His Spirit making all things new. He speaks to the fear, and it is gone. He speaks to the chaos, the failures, and the confusion, and the breath of His Spirit demands that it go.
And when things go wrong and I can’t catch my breath, my Father cups my face in His hands and breathes new life — new hope — into my weary spirit.
How great is our God!
I continued around the bend, a few of the leaves skipping ahead of me. I loved seeing new life in them, even if for a short time. Like the leaves, my spirit had been dry and brittle, joy leaking through the broken places.
The skipping leaves gave me hope.
I smiled, and then the Spirit of God — Ruach — came along pursuing me with His love. Like a gentle breeze on a sweltering day, He breathed on me. The power of His Holy Spirit embraced me and quickened my body bent with the weight of my burdens.
Although the color in my cheeks may have drained for a bit, my spirit came alive with Him, and a skip returned to my steps. A touch of heaven restored and refreshed me.
God spoke life into me once again.
Ruach. The powerful breath of God.
Selah
*********************************************************
Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.
Sweet blessings to you,
So beautiful. I have enjoyed leaves dancing in the wind but never connected them to God’s breathing life and strength into us! He truly is our Breath of Life and I
need this Breath daily!❤
Amen! I need His breath daily also. I’m so thankful that He has taught me to be aware of His Presence and to listen for what He wants to teach me about Himself. He is good!