Breathe Intentionally

“O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.” Psalm 59:17 ESV

In an article titled “How to Breathe While Running, Plus Different Techniques to Try” published by Runner’s World, it was reported that intentional breathing keeps a person running strong in the same way that logging miles, maintaining strong form, and staying fueled does. The writer went on to say: Even if you don’t typically think about each inhale and exhale you take on the road, learning how to breathe while running can boost your performance in more ways than you might realize. “The more effectively you are breathing, the more you can adequately supply your cells with oxygen and remove the carbon dioxide from your cells,” explains Michele Olson, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., senior clinical professor of sport science and physical education at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. The summation of the article was this… When it comes to your inhales and exhales, finding the practice that feels more natural is really what’s going to allow you to progress in running, so it’s worth your time and effort to find the technique that works best for you.

And you know, when it comes to inhales and exhales spiritually speaking, you and I would do well to make breathing in God’s grace and then breathing out His praise something that we naturally do each and every day. You see, our God is a good God who shows His “steadfast love” to us in ways that we might never “typically think about,” ways that display His undeserved favor at work in our lives. And for this we, like the psalmist, should “sing praises” to the One who has promised to be our Strength and Fortress among other things. 

So consider all the ways God has blessed you today my friend—all the grace He has bestowed upon You. The fact that you are alive and breathing is evidence of His unmerited goodwill if nothing else. Make it your practice to inhale that goodness and then exhale the praise that naturally comes from a grateful heart. It’s worth your time and effort. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we don’t typically think about the many ways you bless us each and every day. And therefore don’t make praise something we give You as often as we should. Lord, cause thankfulness to come naturally to us so that we might praise You with the very breath that You have given us. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!