As I was driving home this weekend from my sister’s house, I saw a sign on the overpass with the words, “Are you breathing?”

Obviously, this sign referred to the senseless death of George Floyd.

But, as I thought about it, I also realized that Covid-19 took away the breath of many people. As we all know this virus attacks the lungs, leaving its victims unable to perform the most basic of needs–breathing.

The verse that immediately came to me was:

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

~Genesis 2:7 ESV

What sets us apart from every other created animal? God Himself breathed into us.

EVERY human being gets their life from God.

But what do we do with that breath? Scripture tells us…

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.

~Psalm 27:12 ESV

Our country has seen so much violence in the year 2020. Unfortunately, there are those who “breath out violence.” Anger and bitterness can breed this kind of aggression.

Forgiveness can put an end to it…even undeserved forgiveness.

Our country has seen so much violence in the year 2020. Unfortunately, there are those who “breath out violence.” Anger and bitterness can breed this kind of aggression. Forgiveness can put an end to it…even undeserved forgiveness.

~Stephanie Pavlantos, Author of Jewels of Hebrews

Satan wishes to divide us…. that is not God’s will. Yet here we are living in a divided world in many ways, a divided country with divided families.

In John 20, Jesus met with his disciples after He arose from the grave. After He showed them His hands and feet, He said, “Peace be with you…”

He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

~John 20:22 ESV

As Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them, He spoke of forgiveness. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to live the life God wants us to and be able to give forgiveness as well.

What are we to do with this breath the LORD gave to us? We are to PRAISE Him.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

~Psalm 150:6 ESV

I saw many videos of people praising God instead of participating in the hateful, hurtful speech, and actions of some. Where there is praise, the Spirit of God resides. God is the answer to this world.

We are broken. Only Jesus can fix what is broken…

He gave us His Word that we may know Him and know His ways. In 2 Timothy we read:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

~2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

God breathed out His Word as Jesus breathed out His Spirit on those He breathed life into. His Word with the power of the Holy Spirit can change the hardest or most wounded heart. His Word will teach us His ways and His will, it shows us our faults and sin, it corrects us and judges our intentions, and it trains us to be righteous and mature.

God breathed out His Word as Jesus breathed out His Spirit on those He breathed life into. @DPavlantos #VineWords #ThisSideofHeaven Click To Tweet

Without God’s Word, we will not grow and mature. But, how can we understand His Word?

But it is the Spirit in a man and the breath of the All-powerful that gives him understanding.

~Job 32:8 NLV

Take a deep breath…because you can.

Let the Spirit of God heal our wounds as we forgive. Let us love our neighbors as ourselves.

Who do you need to forgive? Ask the Lord to enable you to forgive them and do it. Not because they deserve it but because you will be set free.

Heavenly Father, help me to forgive every person, whether they deserve to be forgiven or not. Help me to praise You and present Your love to a lost and dying world who desperately needs to know the freedom life in Jesus Christ affords them. Help me to be the catalyst to bring peace to hurting hearts.

In Yeshua’s Name, Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright © 2020: Breathe: Stephanie Pavlantos: All Rights Reserved

Meet our Contributor

STEPHANIE PAVLANTOS

Stephanie Pavlantos is an award-winning writer who is passionate about getting people into God’s Word. She has taught Bible studies for over fifteen years, speaking at ladies’ retreats, at her church, and over the internet.

Her book, Jewels of Hebrews (Mount Zion Ridge Press), won third place at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, and an Honorable Mention at the Florida Christian Writers Conference.

She is an ordained minister, holding credentials since 2019.

Stephanie is the president of the Hudson, Ohio chapter of Word Weavers.

She is a regular speaker at Pjnet TV http://pjnet.tv

Stephanie is a senior editor, social media director, Bible study, and devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More  She is a co-compiler, and a contributing author to Love Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships (VineWords Publishing).

Stephanie works for the Besorah Institute for Judeo-Christian Studies in the Student Services department, as well as teaching their online classes. She holds weekly Zoom Bible studies, covering topics such as the Jewish roots of Christianity; the Four Covenants; and other themes.

She is published in Refresh Bible Study Magazine, Charisma Magazine, Christian Broadcasting Network, and Faith Beyond Fear. Stephanie is a contributing author to Feed Your Soul with the Word of God (Lighthouse Bible Studies).

Married for twenty-seven years, she and her husband Mike have three children: Matthew, Alexandria, and Michael. Stephanie has adopted animals of all kinds, including dogs, ducks, goats, and chickens.

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