Good Morning! I'm so thankful for how wonderfully we're made and that my body breathes on its own. That is an amazing gift from our Creator. Don't you agree?
Yes, swimming is what has me thinking about breathing, and there are four very specific things I've begun to notice about breathing while swimming.
One: As a swimmer, I exhale through my nose and inhale through my mouth.
Two: I cannot inhale completely unless I exhale completely.
Three: I can (and should) exhale while under the water, but I must inhale above the water. What?! My mouth cannot be in the water when I inhale. No brainer, right?!
Four: I cannot exhale and inhale at the same time. Those are two separate actions.
Okay, stay with me.
Inhaling through my mouth allows me to take in more air in less time. Inhaling is what I'm drawing into my life.
Exhaling through my nose is a lot less forceful than exhaling through my mouth. Exhaling is what I'm expelling into the life of others...gently releasing what is in me.
Just as the air I take in feeds my entire body with oxygen, the LORD's breath feeds my soul with life giving grace. I cannot take in more of His grace until I exhale. The more completely I exhale, the more completely I inhale!
There are an unbelievable number of Scriptures that talk about grace, but a couple of my favorites are...
Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (CJB)
As God's fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive His grace and then do nothing with it. 2 Corinthians 6:1(CJB)
Swimming has pressed me to question the way I breathe.
Where I inhale determines what I inhale. Do I inhale from the wrong place (source)?
How does the way I inhale and exhale affect my relationship with the LORD? How does it affect my relationship with others? How does it affect me?
LORD, teach me to continuously inhale and exhale Your life giving grace. Thank You that the grace You give is all sufficient and available to everyone through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Yes, swimming is what has me thinking about breathing, and there are four very specific things I've begun to notice about breathing while swimming.
One: As a swimmer, I exhale through my nose and inhale through my mouth.
Two: I cannot inhale completely unless I exhale completely.
Three: I can (and should) exhale while under the water, but I must inhale above the water. What?! My mouth cannot be in the water when I inhale. No brainer, right?!
Four: I cannot exhale and inhale at the same time. Those are two separate actions.
Okay, stay with me.
Inhaling through my mouth allows me to take in more air in less time. Inhaling is what I'm drawing into my life.
Exhaling through my nose is a lot less forceful than exhaling through my mouth. Exhaling is what I'm expelling into the life of others...gently releasing what is in me.
Just as the air I take in feeds my entire body with oxygen, the LORD's breath feeds my soul with life giving grace. I cannot take in more of His grace until I exhale. The more completely I exhale, the more completely I inhale!
There are an unbelievable number of Scriptures that talk about grace, but a couple of my favorites are...
Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (CJB)
As God's fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive His grace and then do nothing with it. 2 Corinthians 6:1(CJB)
Swimming has pressed me to question the way I breathe.
Where I inhale determines what I inhale. Do I inhale from the wrong place (source)?
How does the way I inhale and exhale affect my relationship with the LORD? How does it affect my relationship with others? How does it affect me?
LORD, teach me to continuously inhale and exhale Your life giving grace. Thank You that the grace You give is all sufficient and available to everyone through Jesus Christ! Amen.
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