Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada with a hymn that for me has a very personal meaning.
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.
Let me tell you why I love this hymn, Breathe on Me Breath of God. I remember some time back, years ago when I had pneumonia—and pneumonia is a dangerous thing for a quadriplegic like me with weak lungs—and I remember singing this hymn, and singing it loudly in the hospital to help break up the congestion in my lungs. And, boy, did I sing those words straight from the heart—I definitely needed the breath of God.
Ephesians chapter 5 says, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” Make music in my heart? Well, that was something I grew up doing. I was raised in a musical family—all my sisters and I love to harmonize and I took ten years of piano lessons when I was a kid. So, even though I'm no Amy Grant or Sandi Patti or Twila Paris … even though I don’t always have the best pitch, music is a huge part of me. Whenever we would pile in the car to go anywhere, my mom or dad would start us off. And, of course, years later when I had my diving accident and became paralyzed, it was those hymns that helped me in my darkest hours: Late at night in the hospital I would softly sing to comfort myself, to give myself a hug, to remind myself of brighter days and better times. I'm just so grateful that I had so many stanzas to so many hymns memorized … “be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side, bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.” I would speak those consoling words to myself, just like that other verse in Ephesians 5 where it says, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” I think that’s the best part about memorizing the words to a worship song or a hymn: you can always speak those words to yourself, or to others, or to the Lord. Like, often in the morning on the way to work, my friend who drives me and I will pray. And many times I'll start off saying, “Let’s open it up with praise,” and then I might say “Immortal, invisible, God only wise; in light inaccessible, hid from our eyes” or I may start off saying, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.” See what I mean? We can speak to one another (and to God!) hymns and spiritual songs.
You know, next week I will be marking 45 years since I broke my neck in that diving accident, and I just bet I'll be commemorating it with a hymn. And speaking of it being the anniversary of my accident, we posted a portion of the Joni movie up on my radio page today. The movie has been seen by millions around the world and so many have come to Christ as a result of it, so please take a minute and drop by my radio page at joniandfriends.org. And while you’re there, pick up a few Gospel tracts, the ones we call “Joni’s Story.” Share them with a friend, especially if that friend has recently suffered an accident, too. It’s all there for you at joniandfriends.org. Take a deep breath today and let God breathe on you His grace, His love, His joy, His peace, His power and His perspective.
© Joni and Friends
Used by permission of Joni and Friends
P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376