Fresh Air and Allowing God to Work
Just as our lungs were designed to thrive on the fresh air of God’s creation, our souls were designed to flourish only when we stop struggling and start surrendering to His divine work within us.
Welcome back to our journey toward a more harmonious life! We are continuing our B.A.L.A.N.C.E.D. Living series, diving into the second "A" of our acronym. This letter is unique because it bridges the gap between the very air we breathe and the spiritual surrender required for a transformed heart.
Today, we explore Air for Freshness on the physical side and Allowing God to Work on the spiritual side.
The Physical "A": Air for Freshness
The Question: Am I allowing the breath of the Holy Spirit to refresh and guide me daily?
Deep Breaths, New Beginnings
John 20:22
"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost."
When we breathe each day, we are being filled with fresh air that cleans our lungs. I like to take some time to do deep breathing exercises to make it even more purposeful. I love this verse because as I do that deep breathing, it reminds me of how Jesus can breathe on me, giving me the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Physiologically, deep breathing lowers cortisol and oxygenates our blood, physically "resetting" our nervous system. Just as your body cannot survive on yesterday's breath, your spirit cannot thrive on yesterday's grace. When you step outside and inhale that crisp, fresh air, visualize it as a physical manifestation of God’s Spirit entering your life to displace the "stale air" of worry and stress.
Cleansed by the Word
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Just like God has given us fresh air to furnish our bodies with a cleansing life, His Word is there to give us instructions and it is profitable unto righteousness. We can be cleansed through the Word of God.
The word "inspiration" literally means "God-breathed." When we read the Bible, we are inhaling the very atmosphere of Heaven. Just as oxygen filters out toxins in our blood, the Truth of Scripture filters out the lies and "pollution" of the world from our minds.
The importance of deep breathing on our health is so powerful, and God’s Word and His Spirit indwelling in us is also so powerful to change our lives—to cleanse us and prepare us for His Kingdom.
The Spiritual "A": Allow God to Work in Your Life
The Question: What are the signs that God is working in me?
The Source of Our Will
Philippians 2:13
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
I love this verse! It is the power of God that works in us. If I am trying to pull myself up by my own bootstraps to make this happen, it isn’t God that is working. I want God to work in my life, and I want to cooperate with His work.
We often exhaust ourselves trying to force spiritual growth. But this verse reminds us that even the desire to do good (the "will") comes from Him. Our job isn't to manufacture the power, but to stop resisting the flow of His energy within us.
Fruit, Not Works
Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
I need to be crucified with Christ. Have I allowed the Lord to so fully work in my life that my thoughts directly go to Him seeking His wisdom and guidance, or am I letting self get in the way—wanting my own way? I have to ask myself this often. I want God leading my life, but I do often let self get in the way. Lord, help me.
A tree doesn't "struggle" to grow an apple; it simply stays connected to the source. When we move "self" out of the way, these nine traits begin to grow naturally. If you find yourself more patient or peaceful than you were yesterday, that is a definitive sign that God is the one at the controls.
The Divine Mirror
2 Corinthians 3:18
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
I love this promise. God will change us through His Spirit and we can rely on and trust His promises. The only thing that gets in the way is ourselves. I don’t want to get in the way; I want to surrender to Him and allow Him to work.
This is a "glory to glory" process. It’s not an overnight transformation, but a steady polishing. As we look at Him, we start to look like Him.
Bringing the "A’s" Together
Breathing fresh air and allowing God to work in our lives are two sides of the same coin: Reception. To breathe, you must open your lungs; to grow, you must open your heart. Just as we intentionally inhale to sustain our physical life, we must intentionally surrender to sustain our spiritual life. By filling our lungs with the freshness of God’s creation and our souls with His Spirit, we create an environment where healing is not just possible, but inevitable.
The Commitment: I want to commit to God to be more intentional in breathing deeply—filling my lungs with fresh air—and allowing God to fill me with His Spirit so that I can be healed both physically and spiritually.
A Prayer of Commitment
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the very breath in my lungs. Today, I choose to stop struggling in my own strength. I open the "windows" of my soul and ask You to blow through me with the freshness of Your Holy Spirit. Cleanse me from the inside out. Take away my "self-will" and replace it with Your good pleasure. Help me to be still, to breathe deeply of Your grace, and to trust the work You are doing in me. Amen.
5 Action Steps for B.A.L.A.N.C.E.D. Living
The 5-Minute Morning Inhale: Before checking your phone, go to an open window or step outside and take 10 deep, intentional breaths, thanking God for life.
Scripture Ventilation: When you feel stressed today, quote Philippians 2:13 and remind yourself that God is the one doing the heavy lifting.
The "Self" Check: Twice today, ask yourself: "Am I trying to pull myself up by my bootstraps, or am I cooperating with God?"
Nature Breaks: Find at least ten minutes to spend in "fresh air" away from recycled office or home air to clear your head and lungs.
Evening Surrender: Before bed, identify one area where "self" got in the way today, and consciously hand it over to the Lord for tomorrow.
True health is found when we realize we were never meant to carry the weight of the world on our own. By simply breathing in the fresh air He provides and allowing His Spirit to do the work He promised, we find the "rest" that leads to true restoration.
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