My sister-in-law, Robin, went to a small gathering with Beth Moore at Beth’s home church in Houston last year.  Robin wrote about the things Beth taught at her blog, here.   There is so much rich truth is Psalm 119.  Besides being veeeeeeeery long (it is the longest chapter in the Bible), it is full of honest prayer and a Psalmists’s anguish.  It is filled with commitment and meditations and wonder and inquiry.

Ps. 119:25-28: I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. I recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees. Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Beth talked about being “laid low,” like the Psalmist talked about, but that we were all layed low in the dust until God breathed life into us (all came from dust and to dust we will return, Ecc.3.20).  I am laid low, preserve my life according to Your word.

There is nothing like a little case of bacterial pneumonia (which feels awfully too much like hippopotamus sitting on your chest) to make you feel laid low, like you are breathing dust.  Lord, preserve me.  I cannot stand not being able to breathe.  I don’t want faulty lungs to be my end.  My own body has caused me horrid claustrophobia.  I need breath.  I need air.  Open the windows!  Let me breathe!!

Robin heard Beth teach, too, on 2 Timothy 3.16.  She began to quote it,

For all Scripture is God breathed and useful for…

But then she stopped and made this comment, “We need to inhale! If God is going to breathe, we need to INHALE!”   Go, Beth.

Breathing in the Word of God as diligently as I have missed and sought good, clear, unobstructed breaths (sometimes long periods of intense coughing  to be able to) these past couple of weeks reminds me of the extreme importance of it.  I have to breathe it in, the very breathe of the Word, like my life depends on it, because for my spirit, it does.