Spiritual Milk, Part II

I'm in the kitchen washing dishes. I hear one of our kids (4, 4, and 7) screaming at another, "Aacccchhhhh!!" I come rushing into the bedroom and see the early earmarks of a potential UFC fight breaking out, with tug-of war and wrestling, "That's mine!! Give that back to me!! Give that back to me right now!" Like a police officer arriving at the scene of a burglary in progress, but using a different imperative, I say, "(child's name), breath!" and then I demonstrate by deeply and slowly breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. It works. Okay, not always, but often. As a parent, I need and use the same calming routine to good effect, too!

When those moments come where life seems overwhelming or busy, and perhaps you feel guilty about not having spent more quiet time with God, or uncertain about how, what if you use the time you do have - right then - and connect with yourself and with God? What if you tried this twenty-second breath prayer that powerfully embodies you in your prayer and can be a simple yet profound way of experiencing God.

Here's how it works. Select a Bible phrase - let's use Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." Break the phrase into two parts. Let's select "Be still" as our first part and "and know that I am God" as our second part.

For the first part, breath in through your nose, hold your breath for about four seconds or so, and then for the second part, slowly and evenly exhale through your mouth. While doing the first part, silently speak the words, "Be still." While doing the second part, silently speak the words, "and know that I am God."

As they say on shampoo bottles, "Repeat" (as often as you want). You and I can do this while driving (eyes open, to be sure), doing laundry, just before engaging your loved one in what you know will be a heated argument, before reading the Bible. The possibilities are unlimited. God wants to meet with you as often as you'll allow time to meet.

Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! - Psalm 150:6 (AMP)

(Over the next few weeks, check in with Spiritual Milk, a series sharing and exploring habits for growing more mature - for knowing, experiencing, and participating with God; help get the word out and share this blog with friends).

Spiritual Milk, Part I

I grew up drinking milk. Chocolate, strawberry, Carnation Instant Breakfast, but mostly just regular cow's milk. I used it in cereals and once or twice mixed with chocolate cake. These days, I favor Trader Joe's "original flavor" rice milk. Whether chocolate, strawberry, plain, almond, goat's, or rice, milk has a place in most cultures, for better or for worse, of being an essential nourishing drink that helps us grow.

My wife Heidi and three children left town to go stay overnight with "Papa" and "Nana". Everything went quiet. I could get some work done, go for a run, put any toys away, catch a few minutes of the game on tv while having lunch. All of a sudden, I also had lots of freedom to do my daily Bible reading and meditations. That was wonderful - but also begged the question, Isn't there a way to hang out with Jesus without having to send my family off out of town (or myself off on a retreat!)?!


Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, - 1 Peter 2:2


(Over the next few weeks, check in with Spiritual Milk, a series sharing and exploring habits for growing more mature - for knowing, experiencing, and participating with God; help get the word out and share this blog with friends).