Jane Coates – Thoughts and Prayers… Breath and Bones

Breath and Bones

The C Journey is long, and longer than you think, or estimate! From diagnosis, to chemotherapy, to surgery, to radiotherapy, to follow up appointments and to preventative future treatment, the journey goes on. It is a challenging journey and those closest to you travel alongside. There are other challenging life journeys and problems that people are also travelling, where the end point is very difficult to see. Recently, MacMillan Cancer Care has been advertising their Support Link on social media, with the tag line- ‘For all the things left unsaid, we’re here for you.’ There are things that you cannot say, express, or explain as you encounter the potholes, the hurdles, the emotions, the waiting, the decisions, the unspoken fears for the future, the uncertainties and so much more. In lots of these major difficulties, these ‘unspoken’, daily challenges and silent burdens that you may try to carry alone can send you down a lonely siding.

I am getting better at sharing the things that I dare not say. The human instinct perhaps is not to load someone with all the details of your illness, emotional challenge, family problem or personal journey. But there are folk who will listen, support and pray for you. They are not specialists, but they will have valuable insights, the empathy to stand with you, and their prayers to the Father in heaven. I recently shared with a member of the Sunday morning prayer team that I was feeling breathless, exhausted with other unpleasant reactions to the cycle of preventative cancer drugs. The following worship song was shared with me, and it was such an encouragement.

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore every heart that is broken
And great are You, Lord

… It’s Your breath in our lungs
So, we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only

… You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
And great are You, Lord

… All the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord

I am sure that the inspiration for the song was taken from Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekeil chapter 37. Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will make breath enter you so that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and I will put breath in you so that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’” Ezekiel 37 v 5-6 AMP

Ezekiel prophesies God’s words over the reassembled bones and the Spirit or breath from the four winds enters the bodies and they come to life and together form a substantial host of revitalized and reenergized individuals. God’s word was spoken over a situation that needed to be transformed, and the Holy Spirit was called into action. God’s word and the Spirit of God together.

I very much needed those words. When you cannot speak the words-if they are too painful for you, or you are personally too exhausted, then seek out someone who can pray God’s word over your situation.

PRAY

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

Edwin Hatch, 1878

SONG Great are you Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHz0w-HG4iU

Songwriters: Jason Ingram / David Leonard / Leslie Jordan

Great Are You Lord lyrics © Sony/atv Timber Publishing, Open Hands Music, Integrity’s Praise! Music, Pt. Nadaku Musik, Little Way Creative

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Preview YouTube video Great Are You Lord – All Sons & Daughters (Official Live Concert)

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