The Breath Of Life: A Christian Meditation

This guided Christian breath meditation invites you into a deeper awareness of God through the very breath He gives. Rooted in Scripture, you’ll explore the biblical meaning of breath through Neshamah and Ruach, discovering how God’s life, Spirit, and sustaining presence flow through you moment by moment. With each inhale, you receive God’s creative and empowering presence, and with each exhale, you release fear, striving, and separation. This is not about emptying your mind, but filling your awareness with the truth that God is as close as your next breath.

Transcript

Welcome to the Breath of Life Meditation,

A transformative journey designed to deepen your intimacy with God through the very breath He gives.

For many Christians,

Feeling connected to God can sometimes feel distant,

Yet the Bible reveals a profound truth.

God is as close as your next breath.

This meditation will guide you through a biblical understanding of breath,

Rooted in two powerful Hebrew concepts,

Nishma and Ruach.

Nishma refers to the breath of life,

As seen in Genesis 2-7,

When God breathed into Adam's nostrils,

Bringing him to life.

It speaks to the divine impartation of life itself.

Ruach signifies the Spirit of God,

The active,

Sustaining presence that gives life and empowers.

Unlike Eastern practices that often emphasize emptying the mind,

Our Breath of Life Meditation focuses on filling your awareness with God's presence.

With each intentional inhale,

You consciously receive His life-giving breath.

Nishma for creation and sustenance,

Ruach for transformation and empowerment.

And with each exhale,

You release anxieties,

Fear,

Or anything that might separate you from Him.

This practice reveals that God's divine breath,

The same breath that created Adam,

Sustains all life,

And empowers believers for mission,

Flows continuously through you.

You are a temple of the Holy Spirit,

A carrier of divine purpose,

And every breath truly connects you to His divine nature,

Creative power,

Sustaining grace,

And resurrection life.

Prepare to discover God's continuous,

Revolutionary presence within you.

Let's begin our journey by turning to the very beginning,

To Genesis 2-7.

This foundational scripture states,

Here we encounter the Hebrew word Nishma,

Which is translated as the Breath of Life.

This wasn't merely air,

It was a direct,

Intimate impartation from God Himself.

Imagine the Creator stooping down,

Taking the dust,

Forming Adam,

And then,

In an act of profound closeness,

Breathing His very essence,

His life-giving breath directly into Him.

This singular act established the breath as the origin of all human life,

Linking our existence inextricably to God's divine nature.

This breath wasn't just for creation.

It was an ongoing connection,

A divine spark that differentiates humanity.

Every breath we take echoes that initial act of creation,

Reminding us that our very being,

Our life,

Comes directly from God.

It highlights the deeply personal and intimate relationship God desired with humanity from the very beginning.

Now,

Let's transition into a time of guided practice,

Consciously receiving this foundational breath of life.

Find a comfortable position,

Whether seated or lying down,

Allowing your body to relax.

Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze.

Bring your awareness to your breath.

Notice the gentle rise and fall of your chest or abdomen.

This is not just air.

This is the very breath that God first breathed into Adam,

The breath that gives you life in this moment,

As you inhale.

Imagine drawing in that original,

Life-giving breath,

The Nishma from Genesis 2-7.

Feel God's intimate presence,

His creative power,

Filling every part of your being.

This is the origin of life within you,

A direct impartation from the Creator,

Allowing yourself to receive His presence deeply.

And as you exhale,

Gently release any anxieties,

Any tension,

Any thoughts that might distract you or create a sense of separation.

Let them go with the out-breath,

Making space for more of God's life within you.

Continue this rhythm.

Inhale deeply,

Consciously receiving God's creative breath,

His intimate presence,

And the very origin of your life.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Exhale,

Releasing anything that weighs you down.

With each breath,

Feel God drawing closer,

As close as your very next breath,

Reminding you that His life continuously flows through you.

Now,

Let's deepen our understanding of this divine breath as we turn to Job chapter 33,

Verse 4,

Which declares,

The Spirit of God has made me,

And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Here,

We encounter another profound dimension of God's intimate connection to us through the breath,

Particularly through the concept of Ruach,

While Nishma,

As we discussed with Adam,

Is the breath of life that God first imparted at creation,

Ruach refers to the Divine Spirit,

The very essence of God,

Who is not only the source of our initial creation,

But also our continuous sustainer and transformer.

This verse in Job assures us that the Spirit of God actively made us,

And that the breath of the Almighty consistently gives us life.

It's an ongoing moment-by-moment sustenance.

Many of us,

As Christians,

Might sometimes feel a spiritual distance,

Or like we need to strive to maintain our connection with God.

Yet this verse reveals a revolutionary truth.

God isn't just a distant creator.

He is the ever-present Ruach,

The breath of the Almighty,

Continuously flowing through us,

Giving us life,

Shaping us,

And sustaining every fiber of our being.

This is not just a past event,

But a present reality.

He is actively involved in forming you even now,

Upholding your very existence with His breath.

Now,

Let's transition back into our guided breathing practice,

Intentionally connecting with this sustaining Ruach,

The very Spirit of God,

Who gives you life.

As you begin to breathe,

Notice your breath flowing in and out.

There's no need to force anything,

Just observe.

With your next inhale,

I invite you to consciously receive the Ruach,

The Spirit of God,

Filling your lungs and your entire being.

Imagine His faithful presence entering you,

Sustaining you in this very moment.

This is not about emptying your mind,

But filling your awareness with the living presence of God.

And as you slowly exhale,

Consciously release any burdens,

Any weariness,

Any anxieties that you might be carrying.

Let them go,

Knowing that the breath of the Almighty is sufficient to sustain you.

Inhale deeply,

Inviting the transforming power of Ruach,

Acknowledging God's moment-by-moment presence and His active role in your life.

Feel Him upholding you,

Giving you strength and peace.

And with your exhale,

Release any feelings of inadequacy,

Any desire to carry burdens on your own.

Simply rest in His sustaining grace.

Continue this rhythm for the next few moments,

Inhaling to receive the life-giving,

Transforming Ruach,

And exhaling to release anything that weighs you down.

Feel His continuous flow within you,

Confirming that He is as close as your next breath,

Actively sustaining your life and spirit.

We've explored how God's breath created us and how His Spirit continually sustains us.

Now,

Let's turn to Job chapter 27,

Verse 3 and 4,

Which offers an even deeper insight into the ongoing power of His breath in our lives.

Job declares,

This powerful passage reveals that the presence of God's breath,

The Ruach,

Within us is not just for our existence,

But for our integrity.

Job recognized that the very source of his life was the breath of God.

God's breath in his nostrils was intrinsically linked to his ability to live righteously,

To speak truth,

And to walk in alignment with God's character.

It tells us that God's presence within us empowers us to choose holiness and to resist speaking what is false or harmful.

Many of us desire to live lives that honor God,

To speak words that build up,

And to act with integrity.

Yet we often feel a disconnect between that desire and our daily reality.

This scripture reminds us that the power to live righteously is not something we muster on our own,

But it flows from the continuous presence of God's breath within us.

It is His Spirit that enables us to maintain integrity,

To speak truth even when it's difficult,

And to live a life that reflects His purity.

Now,

Breathe in God's breath of life,

And exhale deeply.

Again,

Breathe in God's breath of life.

Feel His power and presence flowing into you.

Exhale peace and His amazing grace for your life.

When we consider the breath of God in our nostrils,

We understand that this is not merely a biological function,

But a spiritual impartation.

It is the divine life force that not only sustains us physically,

But also empowers our moral and spiritual alignment.

Every breath then can be a conscious act of inviting God's purity and truth into our being,

Allowing His Ruach to shape our words,

Our thoughts,

And our actions.

This is how we become temples of the Holy Spirit,

Carrying His divine nature in every aspect of our lives.

Now,

Let's deepen this understanding through our guided breathing practice,

Intentionally inviting God's breath for purity and righteous living.

Take a deep conscious breath in.

As you inhale,

Imagine you are drawing in God's pure,

Life-giving breath.

Hold it for a moment,

Back straight,

Shoulders relaxed,

And just sink deep into it.

Feel it filling you,

Not just with oxygen,

But with His holiness,

His truth,

And His desire for your integrity.

Exhale deeply.

Inhale.

Consciously receive this divine impartation for moral alignment,

Allowing His presence to cleanse and purify your heart and mind.

As you slowly exhale,

Release anything within you that hinders righteous living.

Let go of any fears,

Any temptations,

Any old patterns,

Or any sense of separation that keeps you from His perfect will.

With each out-breath,

Imagine releasing all that is not of Him.

Any deceit,

Any impurity,

Any word or thought that doesn't align with His character.

Continue this rhythm of breath,

Inhaling God's purity,

His truth,

His desire for your integrity,

Allowing His breath to align your thoughts,

Words,

And actions with His righteousness.

Exhaling anything that creates a barrier to living in His will,

Releasing it completely.

Feel His breath empowering you to speak truth,

To act with integrity,

And to walk in holiness.

Rest in this sacred exchange,

Knowing that God is continuously providing the very breath that enables you to live a life pleasing to Him.

His breath within you is not only for existence,

But for integrity,

For truth,

And for purity.

Allow His presence to permeate every fiber of your being,

Drawing you closer to His divine truth.

We now arrive at a moment of profound spiritual impartation found in John 20 verses 21 and 22.

After His resurrection,

Jesus appeared to His disciples.

And as we read,

He said to them again,

Peace be with you,

As the Father has sent me,

Even so I am sending you.

And when He had said this,

He breathed on them and said,

Receive the Holy Spirit.

This pivotal moment connects us directly to the very first breath of life,

The Neshamah,

That God breathed into Adam.

Here,

Jesus,

The second Adam,

Breathes upon His new creation,

His disciples,

To impart a new kind of life,

The empowering presence of the Holy Spirit,

The Ruach.

This isn't just about physical life,

But about spiritual new birth.

A fresh impartation of divine life and purpose for those who follow Him.

Just as God breathed life into humanity at creation,

Jesus,

By breathing on His disciples,

Signifies a new covenant,

A new beginning where the very Spirit of God indwells believers.

This act was not merely symbolic.

It was a tangible impartation of the Spirit of God for a divine mission.

It was the moment they were empowered to carry on His work,

To be His witnesses,

And to live out the divine purpose He had for them.

As you inhale,

Imagine deeply receiving the Holy Spirit,

The Spirit of truth,

Of power,

Of love,

Of a sound mind.

Allow yourself to feel a profound sense of spiritual renewal.

As if every cell in your being is being made new by His life-giving presence.

Whisper to yourself or silently affirm with each conscious inhale,

I receive the Holy Spirit.

This passage teaches us that the same divine breath,

The Ruach,

That formed creation and sustains our very existence,

Is now given to us in a personal,

Intimate way,

Empowering us for transformation and for participating in God's redemptive plan for the world.

It reminds us that we are not left out to our own strength,

But are filled with the Spirit of God,

Enabling us to live boldly,

Speak truth,

And fulfill the Great Commission.

Now,

Let's turn our attention to receiving this incredible gift of the Holy Spirit,

The Ruach,

Breathed into us by Jesus Himself.

Place one hand on your heart and the other on your abdomen,

Connecting with the rhythm of your own breath,

The breath that connects you to the Creator.

Breathe in God's powerful breath of life.

And as you exhale,

Consciously release any fear that holds you back,

Any doubts about your purpose,

Or any sense of separation from God's unending love and presence.

Breathe out anxiety.

Breathe out unworthiness.

Breathe out anything that hinders your ability to fully embrace the divine purpose God has for you.

With each exhale,

Release.

Continue this rhythmic breathing,

Inhaling the Holy Spirit for transformation,

Spiritual renewal,

And embracing your divine purpose,

And exhaling all that separates you from Him.

Allow yourself to be filled,

Knowing that the same breath Jesus breathed on His disciples is now being breathed into you,

Empowering you,

Transforming you,

And drawing you closer to the heart of God.

As we gently bring our conscious breathing practice to a close,

Carry with you this profound truth,

God is as close as your next breath.

Through this breath of life meditation,

We have journeyed from the very first breath God breathed into Adam,

To the sustaining Spirit that gives us life,

To the breath that empowers us for righteous living,

And finally,

To the Holy Spirit Jesus breathed into His disciples for mission.

You are not emptying your mind,

But rather filling your awareness with the tangible presence of God through the very breath that flows in and out of your lungs.

This same divine breath created you,

Sustains you,

And empowers you.

Every inhale has been an act of receiving God's life-giving Nishma and transformative Ruach,

And every exhale,

A release of anything that hinders your intimacy with Him.

Understand that this connection isn't something you have to strive for,

It is an inherent reality.

God is continuously present,

Making you a living temple of the Holy Spirit,

And the carrier of divine purpose.

May this revolutionary understanding transform your daily walk,

Reminding you that with every breath you are connected to His divine nature,

His sustaining grace,

And His resurrection life.

Rest in this profound intimacy.

God is truly as close as your next breath.

Amen.