Breath of life

Sunday at church we sang the praise song called "Breathe". This song always touches my soul. The words go something like this:
"This is the air I breathe. This is the air I breathe. Your holy presence, living in me. This is my daily bread. This is my daily bread. Your holy Word spoken to me. And I'm desperate for You. And I'm lost without You."

As I sing this song, quietly in the place I stand with my head bowed, I breathe in and fill my lungs with air imagining that I'm filling my very soul with God's presence. Then when I exhale I imagine that I am letting out all the things that don't belong in His holy presence. As I did that this week I began to wonder about "breath" and so I've decided to do a Bible study on it.

The first verse I found with the word "breath" in it is Genesis 1:30
"And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so."

I did a word search on "breath of life" and found 8 verses with that phrase. From Genesis, all the way to Revelation. "Breath of life" seems significant as it speaks to God giving man and/or creatures the breath of life. Without it, we die. Genesis 1:30 where it is first mentioned is before God created man. It makes me wonder if God breathes. If He does, what is that like? God does not have a body, like we do and I don't think of Him having lungs. So I wonder, if He breathes, how does it happen?

As I think more on this I am reminded of the many conversations I had with my daughter when she was young. She was often asking me impossible questions. Bigger and harder questions than "why is the sky blue". My response was always the same, "Some day when you are in Heaven you will have to ask God". At one point I even suggested she start keeping a list of the questions she is going to have ask God. So for now, I'll take my own advice and someday God will let me know how and if he actually breathes.

For now, I think I will continue to worship Him in song and let my lungs fill with air as I breathe in and ask God to fill me with His holy presence. Then, I will continue to fill my soul by studying His word and breathe in the wisdom it carries.