Breathe - Holy Spirit
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People tend to look for "key" elements of daily living that seem to point toward spirituality; I use the term spirituality here loosely because many seek the spiritual without seeking the Holy Spirit. So in their search to fill that God-shaped space many will seek out a form of spirituality that has a "feel good" tag attached to it. The result is a false sense of having arrived, which is often calculated by having experienced emotions such as laughing or crying; or by having a sense that their dreams were spiritual or that there has been an opening of the mind (Which is called illumination for those who are filled with the Holy Spirit of God). So, as Christians how do we differentiate, since we experience emotions, dream dreams and are given illumination by the Holy Spirit? How do I know that the Holy Spirit indwells me? What actually makes me different in respect to the Spirit of God? I will answer that with a passage from Scripture, but first I want to talk about breathing.
Many of the religions who try to have a form of Christianity take great stock in the importance of breathing. New Age spirituality as well as Zen Buddhism and others focus on the breath. The Zen way says that breathing can transform your life. And the New Age mindset takes stock in breathing as a means to connect with the spiritual. The problem with this thinking is that it is not the air we breathe that sustains and transforms us – it is by the power of the Holy Spirit of God living within us.
I do want us to look, though, at the breath of God, discarding the idea that it is the breath that sustains us and clinging to the knowledge that it is instead the Holy Spirit of God. Spirit (Ruah in the Hebrew and Pneuma in the Greek means breath or wind). How can I see the Holy Spirit as breath in my life? It’s more than taking in and releasing air. Galatians 5:22 says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…”
When I love someone else who may not be loveable; when I can embrace the peace of Christ and exhibit patience with the slow cashier at Wal-Mart, I release the breath of the Holy Spirit in my life. When I learn to curb my hot emotions and exhibit patience with my husband, I breathe in power for life from the Holy Spirit. When I experience pain and suffering and cling to the hope of Christ in faith, or when I look for that silver lining of good, then I breathe the Holy Spirit. When I don’t have to be the top dog, I am breathing. And when I can control the lusts of the flesh, I am breathing in the Holy Spirit (for he who walks in the Spirit will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh). When the "I" can be taken from all of these statements because of the awareness that it is God who works in me to do and to act according to His good will, then the the breath of the Holy Spirit flows through me.
So there is my answer to the question how do we know the Holy Spirit of God indwells us. When we are led by the Spirit and when the fruit of the Spirit is evident as seen in Galatians 5:22. So, Christians, breathe. Know that the Holy Spirit indwells you and is present in the age. Know with assurance that He imbues you with power from above and because of Him you are never alone. Everyday and every where – BREATHE!
© 2009, Carol Hudler. All rights reserved.
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Comments
Coffeesnob,
This is so wonderfu! I too can sense as Nobody the Spirit moving through your writing. It is so beautiful when you know without a doubt that His Holy Spirit lives within you. His Comforter, brings much Peace & Comfort! It is also a wonderful gift to have a spouse that Loves the Lord like you do. God really can teach you to Love them and others even those you have not met...
As you so brilliantly stated: "So there is my answer to the question how do we know the Holy Spirit of God indwells us. When we are led by the Spirit and when the fruit of the Spirit is evident as seen in Galatians 5:22. So, Christians, breathe. Know that the Holy Spirit indwells you and is present in the age. Know with assurance that He imbues you with power from above and because of Him you are never alone. Everyday and every where – BREATHE!"
This again was wonderful and inspiring! THANK YOU for sharing!
Blessings
thank you so much for this
Very good explanation of a difficult and contraversial topic answered from scripture! Great job.
Bob,
Thanks for your encouraging words, you are a dear HP friend and an awesome brother in Christ. You are so right; there are no strangers in the body of Christ and the Holy Spirit within us bears witness to one another, and indeed we have a common purpose toward reaching the lost - Love and blessings in Christ to you as well.
DeBorrah,
It is indeed a beautiful thing when you know the Holy spirit indwells you. He empowers us in so many ways and guides and directs conversation and relationships so that God is glorified. Thank you, dear sister, for your love of the Lord and for walking in the Spirit.
Jesusmyjoy. It is good to see you here. You are a dilgient and faithful person here on HP and your loves of Jesus shines - bless you
LordSeeker,
As always, I love you. Thanks for your support and me and your love of the Lord.
I just read early this morning in Revelation 2:24, “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you.” When I read this verse, I had to pause, and re-read. My mind raced over all the different forms of spirituality I’ve been exposed to in my life. When I read your article, I was reminded of my moment with this verse. I don’t know exactly what God is telling me. Sometimes it takes a lot of repetition before I ‘get it.’ I know whatever truth it is, it’s important, so thanks for letting your words reinforce God’s spirit working in my life.
Every time I inhale and exhale, may I be conscious of the Spirit's power working in and through me. A great daily reminder that as we set out to fulfill our purpose in serving others all we have to do is " Just breathe it!" The Spirit that is. Thanks coffeesnob!
MaryGarrison,
I am glad to have been a part of your journey today. It is a joy to me to know that something I did or said has touched another in a significant way - also I am delighted as well that you are lifting open hands to God and seeking His will and desire. Jesus said that we shall know the truth and it will set us free. Maybe Jesus is leading you to utter and complete freedom in Him - kepp lifting those hands to receive and be blessed
Gicky,
You are a blessing - thanks for your encouragement and strength here.
Living life aware the Holy Spirit lives in us keeps us ever aware of how we react to both the mountain tops and the valleys.
That long lineup and a slow cashier is the line for me as that person may just need some encouragement. As well the people ahead and behind may need a smile and a few words.
Blessings coffeesnob...great hub.
Quill -well said about the long line and slow cashier. I was thinking today about the burning bushes we often miss because we choose the fast line and hurry through life. Blessings to you as well
My dear friend, I can sense that the Holy Spirit truly dwells in you. Your writing is so inspired!
When I was learning to meditate, our guide always told us to take note of our breathing and say (in our mind) the name of Jesus as we breath in and out.
Thank you for this inspiring hub!
Jill,
The name of the LORD YHWH is actually a name that is meant to be breathed rather than spoken. In fact some would not even speak it because of it's sacredness. The LORD's name is in my breath - even when I don't concentrate on it. In Genesis we read that God breathed life into man. I would even go so far as to say that the name of the LORD is in the breath of those who do not even believe in Him. Even those who do not believe will live and breathe as the LORD ordains or die and give up breathing as He also ordains. Isn't it a wonderful thing to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to cause the breath of eternal life to move through us?
Blessings, my friend.
You are so right! The enriching fruits of the holy spirit enrich our lives!!! Thanks for sharing this Glorious Truth!
AMEN!AMEN!AMEN!
Thank you for this be-au-tiful peace about the Holy Spirit! I just finished writing about my first experience with the evidence of speaking in tongues!
Be Blessed!
Tamara
God blessed all the believers on Hubpages
Tamararivella and Williamjordan - thanks for stpping by and reading this hub -May God bless your way for Him.
This is very good, very positive and uplifting. So many times in life it is easy to substitute emotions for spirit. Great job.
AM
Thanks. I have to rely on what I know to be true from the Word of God - I'm too human to figure it out on my own. The Holy Spirit is like water to a thirsty soul, whether he is flowing over me or through me. Blessings!
no body says:
2 months ago
One aspect of the Spirit is that we as Christians can love one another even though we are strangers to each other. I can sense the Spirit moving in you through your writing and He bares witness with the Spirit in me. I can feel that you are family and are working for the same purpose as I -to see people receive Christ as Savior. This is an awesome hub. Carol much love to you and your husband. Bob