A Pondering Life Devotional
“Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.”
— Genesis 2:7 (BSB)
SONG
Listen to my Breathe Life Song (Click Here)
Before There Was Purpose…
There was breath.
Before Adam walked…
Before he worked…
Before he worshiped…
Before he ruled creation…
Before he named a single animal…
God breathed.
The first gift mankind ever received was not purpose.
Not intelligence.
Not strength.
Not responsibility.
It was life itself.
One breath.
That changes how I see every morning.
The alarm clock doesn’t wake me into another obligation.
It wakes me into another gift.
I have been given another breath.
Every Breath Is Borrowed
The older I become…
the more precious breathing feels.
None of us owns our next inhale.
Every breath is grace.
James calls life a vapor.
Moses prayed,
“Teach us to number our days…”
The psalmist concludes Scripture’s hymnbook:
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.”
How fitting.
Genesis begins with God giving breath.
Psalms ends with creation returning that breath in worship.
Life begins with His breath.
Life finds its highest purpose when that breath returns as praise.
Creation Never Stops Teaching
One of the greatest discoveries in my Pondering Life journey is realizing that creation continually preaches.
Jesus taught through…
Seeds.
Birds.
Water.
Light.
Bread.
Sheep.
Vines.
Paul pointed to the human body.
David pointed to the stars.
Creation is God’s first classroom.
And breathing may be His most repeated lesson.
The Forest Inside You
One of my favorite images compares human lungs with the branches of a great tree.
They look remarkably alike.
That resemblance isn’t merely artistic.
It’s instructive.
Trees breathe opposite of us.
We inhale oxygen.
Trees release oxygen.
We exhale carbon dioxide.
Trees receive carbon dioxide.
The breath of one becomes the life of another.
God designed a world built upon interdependence rather than independence.
Even creation quietly whispers:
You were never designed to live alone.
Jesus later revealed that same truth spiritually.
“I am the Vine; you are the branches.”
Branches only flourish while remaining connected.
So do we.
The Gospel According to Your Lungs
Every few seconds something extraordinary happens.
Fresh air enters.
Millions of tiny alveoli receive oxygen.
An invisible exchange takes place.
Fresh oxygen enters your bloodstream.
Carbon dioxide leaves.
Nothing is wasted.
Nothing is random.
Then your heart immediately begins sending that life to every cell in your body.
Brain.
Eyes.
Hands.
Feet.
Every living cell depends upon what your lungs first received.
What a beautiful picture of discipleship.
Truth is first received.
Then it spreads.
Then it gives life.
Head • Breath • Heart • Hands
The more I study Scripture…
and the more I study God’s creation…
the more amazed I become.
Our bodies illustrate discipleship.
🧠 Head — Receive Truth
Everything begins here.
The brain receives information.
Discerns.
Evaluates.
Chooses.
Paul writes,
“Be transformed by the renewing of your minds.”
Truth enters.
But knowledge alone never changes anyone.
🫁 Breath — The Bridge
This may be the missing piece.
Breath is the bridge.
Between thought…
and action.
Between reaction…
and response.
Between fear…
and faith.
Modern neuroscience has shown that slow, intentional breathing helps regulate the autonomic nervous system. When we are anxious or frightened, our breathing tends to become rapid and shallow. Slowing the breath often calms the body and gives us greater capacity for thoughtful, measured responses.
How fascinating that God’s design of the body aligns so well with biblical wisdom. The physical calm created by breathing doesn’t produce spiritual maturity, but it can create space to remember God’s promises instead of reacting in fear.
I like to imagine each breath as an exchange.
Fresh grace comes in.
Old worries go out.
Fresh mercy comes in.
Old fears go out.
Fresh truth comes in.
Old lies go out.
Not because oxygen sanctifies me.
Only Christ does that.
But because God’s physical design continually reminds me of His spiritual work.
❤️ Heart — Circulate Life
The lungs don’t keep the oxygen.
The heart delivers it.
Every cell receives life.
Spiritually…
truth must travel.
It moves from information…
to conviction…
to affection…
to transformation.
Jesus said,
“Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Whatever fills the heart eventually flows somewhere.
👄 Mouth & 🤲 Hands — Overflow
Finally…
the breath returns to the world.
Our mouths speak.
Our hands serve.
Our feet walk.
Our lives become visible.
John 7:38 suddenly comes alive.
“Streams of living water will flow from within him.”
Notice the order.
Receive.
Treasure.
Overflow.
That is God’s rhythm.
Breath Is the Bridge
16 Breath works
One diagram I recently encountered described breathing as the bridge between the reactive brain and the creative, thoughtful brain.
That resonated deeply with me.
Proverbs has been teaching that for three thousand years.
The fool reacts.
The wise pause.
Breathing becomes that pause.
Not magical.
Not mystical.
Simply intentional.
The pause where wisdom enters.
The pause where prayer begins.
The pause where God’s truth is remembered.
From Tension to Abiding
Years ago I wrote about Tension and Release.
An archer pulls back the bow.
Tension increases.
Then comes release.
Today I’d add one more word.
Abiding.
The goal isn’t simply release.
It’s abiding while under tension.
Jesus never promised life without pressure.
He promised His presence within it.
“Abide in Me…”
That changes everything.
The Rhythm Principle
Perhaps one of God’s fingerprints upon creation is rhythm.
Morning.
Evening.
Summer.
Winter.
Work.
Sabbath.
Heartbeat.
Breathing.
Receiving.
Giving.
Life flourishes through healthy rhythms.
The Christian life does too.
The Pondering Life Breath Cycle
I now think of breathing as a simple act of worship.
INHALE
Receive.
Grace.
Mercy.
Truth.
Life.
“Thank You, Father.”
HOLD
Abide.
Meditate.
Ponder.
Like Mary,
“…she treasured these things…”
Remain.
Listen.
EXHALE
Release.
Fear.
Pride.
Bitterness.
Tomorrow.
Control.
Praise rises.
Peace follows.
REST
Wait.
Trust.
Sabbath.
Before beginning again.
Breathe • Abide • Believe • Become • Battle
Over the years this simple progression has grown.
It begins with breathing.
It ends with faithful living.
Breathe.
Abide.
Believe.
Become.
Battle.
Not by striving.
But by remaining connected to Christ.
From My First Breath to My Last
One day…
I will breathe my last.
Until then…
Every inhale reminds me that God is still giving.
Every pause reminds me that Christ is still abiding.
Every meditation reminds me that truth still transforms.
Every exhale reminds me that grace was never meant to stay inside me.
Every act of love becomes another breath of worship.
Perhaps that is why the Psalms end the way they do.
Not with theology.
Not with doctrine.
Not with commands.
But with one beautiful invitation.
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Hallelujah!”
Maybe that is the entire Christian life summarized in one sentence.
Receive His breath.
Live by His Spirit.
Overflow with His love.
And return every borrowed breath to the One who first breathed life into the dust.
Pondering Life Reflection
The longer I ponder God’s creation, the less I see random biological processes and the more I see living parables woven into everyday life. The branching of our lungs mirrors the branching of trees. The exchange between people and plants reminds us that life is sustained through relationships, not isolation. The rhythm of breathing echoes the rhythm of abiding. Even our nervous system seems designed to benefit when we slow down, become still, and remember. None of these things replace the Gospel—they illuminate it. They remind us that the God who authored Scripture also authored creation, and both testify to the same truth: life flows from Him, through Him, and ultimately back to Him.
“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” — Acts 17:28 (BSB)
SONG
Listen to my Breathe Life Song (Click Here)
(Verse 1)
Before I was conceived
Before I could believe.
From the dust You formed us all.
Your breathe of life made us alive.
My first gift wasn’t strength or skill,
Not wisdom, wealth, or fame.
It was Your breath that filled my lungs,
And life came in Your Name.
Like branches reaching toward the sky,
Like rivers flowing to the sea,
Creation sings with every breath,
Declaring Your Providence faithfully.(Pre-Chorus)
Another moment… another blessing of breath…
Another chance to trust and obey You more.
Another heartbeat…the wonderful gift of life…
Dear Jesus, You’re the One I’m grateful for.(Chorus, smooth and light)
Breathe life…
Up…Pure love high,
Right…Holy Spirit cleansing,
Down and out….dirty flesh releasing.
Left and pause…Shalom resting
Breath life…
Rise by filling up
Refresh with new
Release the old
Rest in yes!…
From my first breath…
Until the last…
I’ll praise the One who holds me fast.
For in You I live,
Move and have my being.(Verse 2)
The forest breathes the air I need,
I am filled by what they receive.
The Author of both earth and sky
Designed this human mystery.
My lungs receive to their fill,
my heart sends the blood of life
To every waiting factory cell.Just like Your Word renews my soul,
Your grace is flowing well.
My head receives Your holy Truth,
My heart begins to burn.
Then through my hands and my words
Your love the world needs to learn.(Pre-Chorus)
Slow my breathing…
Still my racing heart…
Help me hear Your quiet voice.
Teach me waiting…
Teach me trusting…
Lord, in You I make my choice.(Chorus)
Breathe life…
Up…Pure love in,
Right…Holy Spirit cleansing,
Down and out….dirty flesh releasing.
Left and pause…Shalom resting
Breath life…
Rise by filling up
Refresh with new
Release the old
Rest in yes!
From my first breath…
Until my last…
I’ll praise the One who holds me fast.
For in You I live,
Move and have my being.(Bridge)
Genesis Two…
Verse Seven says,
“The LORD God formed the man from the dust…”
Then breathed the breath of life…
Into his nostrils…
And man became a living soul.
Then later in John Fifteen… Four…
“Abide in Me…”
John Seventeen…
Acts Seventeen…verse Twenty-Eight…
“In Him we live… And move… And have our being.”
Psalm One-Fifty…verse Six…
“Let everything that has breath Praise the LORD!”(Instrumental / Spoken Reflection)
Every inhale…
I receive.
Every pause…
I abide.
Every exhale…
I release.
Every moment…
I worship.(Final Chorus (Lift))
Breathe Life…
Receive His grace…
Abide in Christ…
Believe His Word…
Become His light…
Then battle from His perfect peace…
Breathe life…
Up…Pure love in,
Right…Holy Spirit cleansing,
Down and out….dirty flesh releasing.
Left and pause…Shalom resting
Breath life…
Rise by filling up
Refresh with new
Release the old
Not striving…
But abiding…
Not forcing…
But flowing…
Like Living Water…
Like borrowed breath…
Returning praise…
To the God who first breathed life into the dust.(Outro)
From my first breath…
To my last…
Every heartbeat…
Every breath…
Belongs…
To You.
Let everything that has breath…
Praise the LORD!