Nougat 17

In today’s Holy Nougat we continue our reflection on the Spirit of God’s impact on our lives.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.” Isaiah 61:1 NLT

With God’s Spirit upon us, we find that God has Chosen us who believe; ie you and me; to Join God in God’s creative process. I agree, this is a prophetic message about Jesus, our Messiah. But our recent reflections indicate that we have been bequeathed God’s Spirit by Jesus. And if God never changes, then this descriptor for Jesus here in Isaiah also applies to us.

Here in the Nougat, the term for Spirit is ‘Ruach’, which is often understood as ‘breath’ or ‘wind’. In rereading it therefore, we can say that the Breath of the Sovereign Lord is upon me … What could it mean for God’s breath to be upon us in the a world that struggles to breathe right now? Is it that we have lost access to the ‘Breath of Life’ literally and figuratively?

When we consider that the sign of transition from this side of eternity is sometimes described as ‘taking our last breath’ we ought to find comfort and joy in knowing God’s Breath is upon us. For if God is everlasting, and God is, then even when we breathe our last human breath, we live in the hope and knowledge that with God’s Breath, eternity awaits.

Furthermore, we note that God’s Breath is ‘upon us’; perhaps in the same manner of Genesis 1.:2. There, darkness (uncreatedness) was the order of the day and the Breath of God hovered (rested) over the uncreative mass of water. Before expanding the thought; here’s another question for us – Is God’s Spirit (Breath) hovering over our uncreativity just now? Are there unformed spaces waiting for Divine transformation? Perhaps we can just pause and offer them to God.

Remember, after God’s Spirit hovered in Genesis 1; God spoke (activated God’s Breath) and Life happened. You see, God’s Breath transforms chaos into order; and lifelessness into newness of Life and Hope. And before we can even Think of offering this Gift of Transformation by God’s Spirit to others, we first ought to permit the Transformation to begin within.

So as we accept God’s Spirit upon our lives today, I pray we embrace the transformation power offered for us and others. Amen

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May all we seek be found in Christ