Deep breaths.
That’s what I find myself taking more and more.
You know the kind of breaths that other people hear and then ask, ‘Are you ok?’ That’s the kind I’m talking about. Sometimes they’re breaths of frustration when I’m dealing with a moody daughter. Other times they’re breaths of anxiety when I feel my things-to-do list overtaking the hours in my days.
And then there are the other breaths.
Those deep breaths of grief that overcome me when I have a flashback of a specific moment with Nick and the images are more than I can bear.
Surely God knows that these breaths have some sort of healing power or He wouldn’t have made them a part of who we are. He breathed life into us, and I just have to believe that He Who knows us most intimately gave us the ability to take deep breaths “as needed.”
I’m thankful even in my deepest breaths for the breath He gave us.
But more than that, I am thankful that He didn’t just write a book for us to read. I am thankful that He breathed His Word into existence and left us with a Book that is ALIVE and ACTIVE.
I love to touch my Bible and know that it is made from God’s deep breaths. It’s as if God exhales the words and as we read them we inhale them into our body.
As we breathe these words in, the Bible says they are able to “penetrate even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow” and “it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12) When I think of this, I read His Words differently. My eyes scan each letter with a certain level of fear and a great deal of respect. He Who spoke the world into existence is the same One who breathed your Bible into existence. As you read the first chapter of Philippians, I am praying that you will be prepared for both moments of encouragement and seasons of conviction as you inhale God’s breath into your deepest places.
Philippians was written to the church in Philippi while Paul was under house arrest in Rome. The church had sent Epaphroditus to deliver a gift to Paul. Ind In return Paul sent them this thank-you letter.
My first thought as I read the history of this book was this:
God blesses those who bless others. What can I do today to be a blessing to someone else? What have I done in response to blessings I have received from others? Help me, Lord, to be responsive.
My second thought was this:
God can use something as simple as a thank-you note to change the lives of people. When is the last time I wrote a thank-you note? How much time did I put into the words I wrote? Help me, Lord, to be an encourager through both actions and words.
From what I could gather in some research (Click HERE for some interesting charts), Paul had already completed his three missionary journeys by the time he wrote Philippians. Over 20 years have passed since Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus. I am sure that at this point in his life, Paul is tired and feeling the effects of the shipwrecks and persecutions he has endured throughout his ministry. In spite of the certain pain and agony his body has undergone, Paul does not spend time lamenting his troubles as he writes. He doesn’t complain. He doesn’t ask for sympathy. He begins with a joyful greeting and words of thanksgiving.
As I read chapter one, several verses popped out to me. Too many to discuss in one post.
For today, I’ll touch on just a few:
I love in verse 4 when Paul says that he “prays with joy” when he is praying for the church in Philippi. I want to have a joy that is so deep that even in my darkest moments I will turn to God and pray with joy for others. I remember a portion of a poem that my first college roommate had on our mirror in the dorm. I’ll never forget the words even though it has been over 20 years since I saw them in writing,
Lord, let me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer will be for others.
Verses 9-11 really jumped out at me too.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.”
Paul wasn’t praying that they would feel more love. So often I think of love as a feeling, and my moods are affected by the amount of love I feel towards others and from others. How often do I think of my love abounding in knowledge and depth of insight? If I learn more about others, isn’t it easier to love them more deeply? When I learn more about the qualities of God and the character of God, doesn’t my love grow deeper? Not just because of a feeling but more because of a KNOWING. I love the song, “I want to know you. I want to see your face. I want to know you more.”
I’d never really thought about why we sing those words. Why do we want to know God more? I think the reason is in the verses above, “so that we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
If we KNOW God, our love will grow deeper (abound more and more) and we will begin to make better choices, we will become discerning (wise).
And eventually FILLED with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ!
Now, I don’t know about you, but I am already more excited!
Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, sat in a cold, dark prison cell and penned a thank-you note to a group of Christians and by making this decision, he allowed all of us to be encouraged, strengthened, and motivated to a deeper level of love towards God and towards one another.
This weekend, I want to:
Choose someone to love more deeply. Maybe someone I do not know very well. Choose to grow in knowledge and depth of insight about that brother or sister and choose to grow in knowledge and depth of insight about God. See if God begins to reveal to me a deeper level of discernment. See if I find myself being called to a purer life.
I hope you’ll challenge yourself too.
Let’s keep reading chapter one until we have made our way through each lesson we can uncover.
If anything spoke to you as you were reading, please share your comments here by clicking on the words “precious comments.” I would love to hear your thoughts.
God bless you all,
In December of 2007 as our youngest son, Nick, was fighting brain cancer, I began to blog. Writing provided a way for me to release all of my questions, fears, and doubts. It also allowed me to share the ups and downs of Nick's journey with people who were praying for him all over the world. When Nick went Home in November of 2008, my blog became my way of searching for God in the midst of my deep heartache. My heart was broken and grief brought to the surface every emotion imaginable. Being able to release those emotions through my writing brought a sense of purpose to my pain. Having already walked the road of grief in 1992 when we lost our daughter to SIDS, I knew I needed a way to keep from falling into a pit of depression and despair. I had walked close to the edge of a bottomless pit when we lost our daughter,and I knew I couldn't let myself get that close to the edge again. This blog has been and continues to be my tiny corner of the world where I can share My Heart as I journey through God's Word.......thus the name........ My Heart His Words. Thank you for taking time to share life with me. If we do not meet while here on earth, I look forward to hearing all about your life when we reach our final destiny.........Heaven! Email me anytime at 
Tammy,
Your words in your blog yesterday and today have spoke to my heart. I am going to email you.
God Bless You,
natalie
I am reading along with Phillipians but was just re-reading your post and it really hit me between the eyes.
Paul prayed that their “love would abound” that is a love they are giving out not something they are receiving ir feeling. But as they give out in an abounding manner they will receive more. That of course goes to the thought that it is better to give than to receive. Everything with God is intertwined.
I don’t think my message makes much sense but it did to me. Thank you Tammy for sharing.
Natalie, Thanks for you sweet email. I love you. We will see our sweet Mallory and Nick one day, and there will be no more goodbyes!! 🙂 Oh, what a day that will be!
Jen, I love the thought of our love ABOUNDING….yes it is all about giving not receiving, and you are right….God intertwines every part of His story…..Love you and thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🙂 Have a wonderful day!
Tammy,
In reading along in Phil. 1, I think it has many lessons! Paul wrote it while in prison to all believers. He is saying to be thankful and show our gratitude.
To me, I think he is saying for us to not think so much of ourselves. He talks about the difference between happiness and joy. The difference he says is that joy comes from knowing Christ!
No matter what our circumstance is; joy comes from inner strength, from Christ. It’s knowing that God will be with us, no matter what!
A FAVORITE VERSE OF MALORIE’S WAS; Phil. 1:21, “For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better.”
I used to wonder why she had that verse marked?? What an awesome girl, I think Malorie got it!!!
much love,
natalie
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