Come Holy Spirit Series
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The Breath of God
Opening Reflection
There is something intimate and
sacred about breath. It is the very first gift we receive when we enter the
world—our first inhale marks the beginning of our earthly journey, and our
final exhale marks its end. Breath is both unseen and essential, sustaining
life quietly yet powerfully. So when the Scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit as
The Breath of God, it invites us into a profound mystery: the Spirit is
not just close to us—He is within us, sustaining us from the inside out.
The Hebrew word ruach and
the Greek word pneuma are both translated as “spirit,” but they also
mean “breath” and “wind.” From the very beginning of creation, this image of
the Spirit as the breath or wind of God is present and active. When we invoke
the Holy Spirit as the Breath of God, we are calling on the One who animates,
revives, inspires, and empowers—who breathes God’s very life into our hearts
and lives.
Scriptural Foundations
The image of the Spirit as God’s
breath runs deeply throughout both Old and New Testaments:
“The Spirit of God has made
me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4
Here, Job affirms that his very
life comes from the breath of the Almighty. Life is not merely biological—it is
spiritual. Our souls are animated by God's own Spirit.
“Then the Lord God formed man
from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and the man became a living being.”– Genesis 2:7
At creation, we were shaped from
the dust, but we did not become truly alive until God breathed into us.
The breath of God makes us more than flesh—it makes us persons capable of love,
reason, relationship, and worship.
“Jesus breathed on them and
said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” John 20:22
In this stunning moment after the
Resurrection, Jesus re-creates His disciples, just as God once breathed life
into Adam. He imparts the Holy Spirit with a breath—an act of both power and
tenderness, signifying the Spirit’s role in birthing a new creation.
“Come from the four winds, O
breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.” Ezekiel 37:9
In the famous vision of the
valley of dry bones, the breath of God brings the dead to life. This passage is
not just about physical resurrection but also about spiritual revival—God’s
ability to breathe hope, vitality, and purpose into even the most lifeless of
situations.
Theological Meaning
To call the Holy Spirit the Breath
of God is to affirm that He is the very life-force of God working in
creation, redemption, and sanctification. Breath is invisible but necessary. It
is quiet but powerful. In the same way, the Spirit often works silently,
beneath the surface, but His presence is what enables us to live fully in
Christ.
The Church Fathers often
reflected on this title. St. Basil the Great described the Spirit as the One
who “animates all things and gives life.” St. Augustine noted that the Spirit,
as breath, binds the Father and the Son in mutual love and unity—He is the
Breath of Divine Love. Even the Nicene Creed affirms: “We believe in the Holy
Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.”
Personal Reflection
Have you ever stopped to become
aware of your breathing? In moments of anxiety, grief, or stress, breath can
become shallow and laboured. Yet slowing down and breathing deeply can be a
path to peace. This same principle applies to our spiritual lives. When we feel
dry, weary, or distant from God, we are invited to breathe again—to invite the
Holy Spirit to fill us afresh.
The Breath of God is not just
something that gives life once. It renews us daily. It breathes hope into
despair, strength into weakness, courage into fear. Every breath we take can
become a prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, Breath of God, fill me anew.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit,
Breath of the Living God.
Breathe into me the life of the Father.
Where I am weary, bring strength.
Where I am dry, pour out refreshment.
Where I am restless, instil peace.
You who hovered over the waters of creation, hover now over the chaos of my
life and bring new order and beauty.
Fill my lungs, my heart, my soul with Your presence.
Make me fully alive in Christ.
Amen.
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