Take A Deep Breath

 Today is day 3 of our fast and we're concluding our study of next month's theme exhale. The past two days we focused on the exhalation of God and our receiving of the transformation that only He can provide. Today let's focus on our own exhalation. 

The biological process of exhalation is for the removal of waste gas from our bodies. When we exhale we create space for our bodies to receive oxygen and continue the intrinsic process of breathing that keeps us alive. 

Consider exhalation in a spiritual context. If we think about breathing spiritually, the reception of the Word similar to oxygen makes life sustainable. And exhalation in the spiritual sense is the removal of toxic patterns that keep us from fulfilling the will of God. The book of Jonah exemplifies the importance of letting go of our faulty thinking and embracing the truth of God. The letting go includes an exhalation. While in the belly of the fish after refusing to submit to God Jonah said "I called out of my distress to the Lord, and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice." (Jonah 2:2)

Crying out to the Lord is the first part of exhalation. Recognizing that we are incapable of saving ourselves is a good place to be. The striving ceases and we can invite the Lord to exhale His Ruah into any circumstance for us to experience deliverance and newness life. As Jonah cried out to the Lord, we see a transformation of thinking take place. Jonah concludes his cry to the Lord with an acknowledgment of who God is and a commitment to fulfilling His will. "But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord."(Jonah 2:9)

Jonah's sacrifice of worship was cultivated from a place of laying down his own perception of what was right in his own eyes. Jonah started out running from the call of God because his perception impaired his thinking and ultimately he operated in disobedience. And God because he is gracious allowed Jonah to be swallowed by the fish, which enabled him to acknowledge the facility of his life and the saving grace and power of God. 

Let's examine our thoughts. Are there patterns of thinking that I embrace that is contrary to the Word? Is my thinking causing me to walk in disobedience? If so, our first step is to cry out to the Lord. Then we are to cast down vain imaginations and surrender our hearts and minds to the Lord for cleansing and restoration. Now let us take a deep breath. Remember His grace is sufficient. 

2 Corinthians 10:5

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

Psalm 51:10

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me"

Psalm 51:17

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

Sit with the Lord today. Pray for revelation in the stillness. As the Lord shows you areas for growth, pray over each area and continue to surrender every faulty thought pattern. Pray scripture out loud. May the Lord continue His transformative work in each of our lives. Amen. 



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