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Focal verse
“The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4).
Reflection
You made it—you’re here at the start of a new year. Perhaps you came limping over the threshold to 2026 or you’re still trying to catch your breath after all things Advent and Christmas. You haven’t put away the decorations yet, and you’re tired of refereeing fights between siblings. You may be nursing hurt feelings or disappointments from the holidays and their family get-togethers. Plus you still have the bills and appointments, which don’t go away with the turn of the year.
But you’re here. And so is God.
However the new year greets you, God is here to walk with you. God is as close as your breath. Perhaps that’s the best place to start the year: with a deep breath. Then another.
When my kids get upset, I tell them to take a deep breath. When their sibling won’t share and calls them a name, when they’re worried about an upcoming test, when they can’t figure out their homework, my refrain to them is “Take a deep breath.”
But how often do I take my own advice? When I’m shuttling kids to rehearsals and waiting in the pickup line, do I take a moment to pause? When I’m paying bills and checking bank account funds, do I take a deep breath? In the early mornings, when everyone else is asleep, or before dinner, when I’m preparing a meal, do I listen to my body?
God comes to us whether we are still or not, but with our racing minds and beating hearts, we should take a moment to be still. To take a deep breath. This month, I pray that you will take time to find your breath and will invite your family to do the same. You can all sit at the table together before a meal, breathing in and out before your first bite. Lying in bed with your kids, you can teach them to feel their stomachs move in and out with every inhalation. God’s spirit moved over the world at the beginning of creation, and that’s the same spirit that moves in us and through us.
With every breath, trust that God’s love dwells in you.
Practices
- Parents and caretakers, read Heidi Barr and Ellie Roscher’s 12 Tiny Things: Simple Ways to Live a More Intentional Life (Broadleaf Books, 2021) to learn about small but meaningful micropractices that will deepen your faith and open your life to growth and renewal.
- Start a prayer jar for the year. Grab a glass or bowl and fill it with prayer requests. Leave scraps of paper and pens nearby so your family can easily write the prayers and place them in the jar. Imagine God holding the prayers you offer.
Prayer practice
Practice breath prayers together as a family. Pick a phrase or short Bible verse and breathe in and out together. This could be your mealtime prayer or a bedtime practice:
[Breathe in.] God of peace,
[Breathe out.] Be with me,
[Breathe in.] God of love,
[Breathe out.] Help me love others.
