Genesis 2:7
“…the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

Ezekiel 37:1, 9-10
“The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones…Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’’  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.”

John 20:20b-22
“The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’  And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

Sacred Spirit of God, you move in currents as mysterious as the wind.

You have blessed us with the intimacy of your breath, stirring life into our dry souls.  We feel a holy warmth in your approach.

Recreate us, O Creator.  Resurrect us with the essence of your Spirit so that we become a vast army prepared for the work of your kingdom.

We ask this in Christ’s name, whose divine breath was paused and bones dried in death to fill us with life everlasting.

Listen to ‘Breathe on Me, Breath of God‘ by Lisa Bloecher