Quite often when I am visiting a patient at the hospital, we become aware of a persistent beep from the vital signs monitor. The patient’s pulse oximeter is registering a low blood oxygen level, usually a dip below 90% (98-100% is normal). The patient will sometimes crimp the sensor taped to a finger or “forget” to breathe during conversation! The beep is a prompt to take a few good, deep breaths, and almost without fail the O2 number climbs back up into normal range. We can continue our visit without further interruption.
A persistent beep has been going off for almost two weeks on my spiritual monitor. It started with a bad dream pummeling me with a sequence of spiritual threats, against which I spoke the Jesus Prayer repeatedly: “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior, have mercy on me!” In wakeful hours heavy clouds of self-doubt and regret have overcome me. I have been peevish with my husband. Facebook interchanges have raised my ire, and the political cacophony is getting to me. Pandemic prevention fatigue is morphing now into my annual SAD period (“Seasonal Affective Disorder”—look it up; it’s a thing).
I know what to do if my oxygen saturation goes down. But what am I supposed to do when I’m gasping for air in the spiritual realm?
Breathe. Deeply. Don’t overthink it. Just be still, and remember who is God!
Treat this for what it is: a spiritual battle against an opposition that would like to neutralize something good I am trying to do right now. For me, that something good must be the two Bible study sessions I teach each week (different groups). I expect it also has to do with an expansion of my ministry through writing (book number two outlined in my file) and who knows what else. Whatever the reason, the reality is the same: Spiritual battle requires deep breathing, mental reframing, spiritual confidence, and the Lord’s power.
No stranger to a distressed spiritual monitor, the apostle Paul knew what to do when the alarms went off:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. . . . Stand, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17)
Stand. Breathe deeply. Use the armor. Pray the Jesus Prayer. God will give us the breath of life.
