Breathe in+out

You love me…
I love you…
It is as simple as breathing to except that God loves you (To inhale) and that you love God (Exhale). This morning I had a moment where I was able to be at rest in God’s embrace. I lay down and listened to the Voice which penetrated my in most being. The word that came sweeping over me as I breathed was love. Over the last several days I have been processing the disciplines of my faith. Disciplines are a funny thing. They can either lead to life or death. Death, when disciplines are without love and life when love is the principle. When we try to force a discipline in order to get something, we start in the wrong place. Paul writes about this when he says if I have not love I am nothing. But to start with love, you find yourself doing weird things. I think about a husband and wife, who when he tries to force a “Date night” (lol) but hasn’t really given himself over to loving her; becomes meaningless, another night with an obligation. However, when he gives himself over to embrace her love; when he remembers how beautiful she looked the day of their wedding when his bride came down the aisle, or when he thinks about what he felt in the moment when he got down on his knees and begged for her to accept him into her life, that is when life is brought back into one night set to celebrating a discipline of embracing love. So we start with embracing love. Why do we love? The apostle John answers with because he first loved us (Breathe in). Starting with embracing love that Jesus has for us is good, but how does it flesh itself out? For me, I am finding that practicing what I receive from God is the way in which to bring life to my everyday. I mean, if we are lovers of God, then shouldn’t we love God back? We take this same scenario of the husband and wife. Is it enough for the husband to say to his wife that he loves her but doesn’t do anything to spend time with her? She longs to have her husband relish in the joy of their marriage and celebrate their love together. Carving out a time to celebrate that would be for her and him a discipline that leads to life. I am finding truth that looks a lot like a “Date night” with God. Except it isn’t/is a night. It is taking my present state and consciously thinking about Him. Breathe…to take it in. Let it fill your lungs to capacity to the point where it stings a bit. Exhale…letting go. Releasing the love that is overflowing and letting it all go. It is as simple as breathing…