Sometimes bad habits are hard to break.  And when it comes to exercise, I have one.  Well, at least one.  And this is the one my fitness trainer, Christine, is currently trying to correct:  my breathing!  Whenever she asks me to do a particular exercise―whether it’s hammer curls, goblet squats, a chest press―when I get to the point where my strength is being tested, where I have to exert a lot of energy to complete that next “rep,” I hold my breath.  Now that would not seem to be such a bad thing, except it can cause you to faint.  Not such a good thing!

What I am learning is when I need to lift a challenging weight, instead of holding my breath as I exert effort, I need to exhale.  Exhaling engages my “core” muscles which give me more power―power to lift the weight I didn’t think I had the strength to lift, to complete those last “reps” of an exercise I thought I could never finish.  There is power that comes from my core when I breathe out!

This got me to thinking how this breathing lesson can be applied spiritually.  When things become challenging in your life, when the circumstances you face become overwhelming, don’t hold in your faith.  When you are treated unfairly or facing financial challenges, don’t hold your “breath.”  Instead draw strength from your faith core.  Draw strength from the empowering Holy Spirit, the Holy Breath of God that dwells in you―and breathe out!

Breathe out an act of kindness.

Breathe out an act of compassion.

Breathe out an act of generosity.

Breathe out an act of forgiveness.

And as you breathe out with these acts of faith from your spiritual core, watch how you are empowered.

Empowered to overcome that adversity.

Empowered to face that difficult challenge.

Empowered to shed those burdens that seek to break you.

Breathe out!  Breathe out with acts of faith and watch how your spiritual muscles are strengthened.