Finding a rhythm: exhale
Pamela Kennedy
February 14, 2024
Add to Favourites
Listen to this daily worship
Matthew 4: 8-10 (NRSVA)
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; 9 and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ 10 Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.”’
A wonderful, wise counsellor once taught me the art of the exhale: I hear you, but I will not partner with you. Away from me, Satan! I breathe in that which will nourish, sustain, enable, and I breathe out the toxins, the air stripped of oxygen. The swimmer breathes out, bubbling breath, and moves on. To exhale always makes room for fresh inhale.
Yet this too is a truth: a breath in its fullness must both draw in and release. Prayer in all its fullness is dynamic, relational, breathing in Word and breathing out response. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. With each complete breath the prayer changes, deep calling out to deep and drawing us deeper still. This exhale of mine matters.
Prayer:
Breath of God, Ruach, mighty Wind,
Breathe in to me that I might breathe out
My love in response to Yours
All that is not of You
All that weighs heavy
Knowing that You delight in the process
And that You hear me, and know, and see.
Enable me to discern Your will for the swim
Even in the face of that which might seem good
Or valuable, or victorious
To remember that true victory is only
In the One whose power
Is seen in weakness
Humility
Death
To life!
Amen
Login to comment.