Are these days making you feel breathless? Like you’re wearily running a marathon? Perhaps you’re sick and literally struggling to take a breath. Perhaps you’re finding yourself holding your breath from constant pain, anxiety, or stress. We are indeed living through a race of endurance right now.
But we are not running alone, beloved in Christ. His Spirit is within us as believers!
When you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, [you] were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory (Eph. 1:13 ESV).
Let’s have a “praise interruption” today as we pray and praise our triune God for His strengthening, purifying, and sanctifying work…as He gives us breath to run this race to its glorious end.
Lord, I am suffering but, according to the riches of Your glory (Eph. 3:16), Your perfection and Your majesty, You have given to me immeasurable riches of Your grace, in Christ. Hallelujah!
The riches of His grace
![In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:7 ESV).](https://i0.wp.com/laurihogle.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Eph-1-7.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1)
So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:7 ESV).
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.
The riches of His endurance
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until my will is one with thine,
to do and to endure.
Lord, I am suffering but You are my Helper, my Comforter, my strength. You are the source of all life-giving breath, my endurance of faith, abundant strength, and godly contentment as You grant it to me (Eph. 3:16). Thank You for shaping my desires and will to Yours as You help me.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence (2 Pet. 1:3 ESV).
The riches of His love and power
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
till I am wholly thine,
until this earthly part of me
glows with thy fire divine.
As I suffer, grant to me to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in my inner being as you describe in Eph. 3:16. I praise You for Your unchanging, steadfast, covenant love shown to me in Christ. Thank You for pouring Your continual love into my heart, as I suffer.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (1 Cor. 3:16 ESV).
The riches of His grace will help me run the race
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life
of thine eternity.
(“Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” Hatch, E., 1878)
As I suffer, please keep me focused on the glorious end of this earthly race, by Your amazing grace shown to me in Jesus Christ. I praise You for the riches of Your abundant grace! Help me to glorify You as I depend on You and thank You for Your grace, each day.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you (Rom. 8:11 ESV).
The riches of His salvation, His strength, His song
Thank You for this cherished promise…
as your days, so shall your strength be (Deut. 33:25 ESV).
In the name of our great and glorious Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
Sister in Christ, I’ve created a playlist for us to sing-pray to the Lord this week, along the themes of this “praise interruption.” Through the songs, we ask for His Spirit to breathe on us. We ask Him to provide us strength to walk in His way, reminding our hearts that He is giving us power to be content, to endure, to hope, to trust Him. We praise God for our gospel hope in Christ and for the riches of His abundant grace to us.
I’m praying the songs will help us each to trust God with every minute, as we suffer, because He dwells within us. If praying with music might bless you, sign up here and I’ll send it to your email as my special gift to you.
