Taking A Deep Breath

At the Friday Men's Group some weeks ago, we were discussing "wisdom". Someone made the point that wisdom is when you take a deep breath before you respond to whatever or whomever is pushing you at the moment.

How could it be so simple? How many times have we gotten into trouble because we were moving so fast that we didn't think things through? How many times have we felt pushed by our impulses to say or do things that we have later regretted? Take a deep breath. You have just become wise.

When one of the guys shared this, the Holy Spirit pointed out that taking a deep breath is not just some psycho-relaxer thing we do. We take a deep BREATH! The Old Testament word for Spirit is "ruach" or "breath". A wise person first takes a deep, cleansing gulp of the Holy Spirit before making his or her next decision or speaking words that will alter their course.

When I was young, people would say, "Count to ten before you speak." That is the world's version of taking a deep breath. I, however, think that wisdom and the Holy Spirit are indelibly linked and that is why when we pause--when we take a breath--it make us rest in the Lord, even just for a moment. It is then that He quickly and quietly tell us to either hold our tongue or speak the truth; to act or not to act in each given situation. Take a breath.

Today, I encourage you to take some deep, cleansing breaths, especially when life pushes you around and roughs you up. If you will pause before responding and take a breath, then you will be a wise person.