Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
—Matthew 7:7-8
Have you taken time to pray today? Did you wake up with thoughts of Jesus on your heart, mind, and soul? He is waiting every morning for our first thoughts to be on Him, praising Him for who He is, what He has done, for how He works all things to His glory.
So often when the alarm goes off, we hit the snooze button a few times. Frequently this leads to the “Late Again Syndrome.” We fly out of bed and rush to accomplish the morning’s activities. All the while, Jesus is on the back burner of our minds. He never pushes Himself on us, although He desires for His children to seek Him, search the Word, sing praises to His name, and call upon the name of the Lord in all things.
How does regular exercise benefit our ability to breathe? When we exercise on a regular basis, our lung capacity increases, allowing a larger volume of air to enter our lungs. High intensity workouts require deep breathing, which in turn causes the lungs to increase air intake. This is beneficial for everyone because an increased lung capacity not only enhances our stamina, but it is good for our overall health. A larger lung capacity and increased oxygen level help circulate blood in the body. A better blood flow aids in cleansing the veins and arteries. So, increased lung capacity = increased oxygen intake = increased blood flow = blood and vein cleansing!
How does spiritual exercise benefit our spiritual breathing? By now you know I love to use real-life lessons as a way to teach spiritual truths. So here goes. As long as we are alive, we breathe air, and we know there are ways to improve our breathing capacity. We can do the same with our spiritual breathing. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we enhance our intake of the Holy Spirit. The minute we become alive in Christ, the Holy Spirit resides inside us forever. And when we desire to live a life sold out to Jesus— walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh—we increase our spiritual lung capacity. The deeper we breathe in the Holy Spirit, the more we allow Him to flow through us. He cleanses our lives of impurities. As we breathe Him in, we experience fulfillment of His presence. He gives us the yearning to exercise a prayer life with Him, stay fit through Bible study, and work out our daily problems through Him.
Wow, increased time with Jesus =
Increased spiritual understanding =
Increased Holy Spirit flow =
Spiritual cleansing!
PRAYER CHALLENGE
Seek Jesus first in the morning before your head ever leaves the pillow. Commune with Him at the dawning of your day. Need a reminder? Ask the Holy Spirit for an inward nudge to seek the Lord first thing every morning. Then watch to see how your day unfolds. It is so much fun to have a personal relationship with Jesus—King of kings, Lord of lords, Savior of the World.
