Poetry

Barely Breathe

by Tim Pickl
08/31/13
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“I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 Amplified Bible

Tortuous crucifixion knocks the wind out of me—I can barely breathe;
The weight of my body suspended by my arms results in chest pains—such misery.
My pectoral muscles are paralyzed; breathing is difficult—my strength wanes.
I can inhale, but to exhale I have to push on my feet and straighten my legs;
That action releases the immense pressure pulling on my arms and chest…
Oh… but the pain this brings to my nailed feet is excruciating torment;
But as I blink away bloody sweat, I think of you, my friend—every moment.

I feel the weight of all of your sins bearing down on my body like a flood;
I know I have to endure the cross and the shame while they shed my blood;
While gasping for every breath and suffering such anguish just to exhale again;
I AM doing this because my love for you is more than you can comprehend:
I AM the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father—Immanuel, God is with you!
While I AM fighting for every breath, I AM exhaling my last words of truth:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do .” (Luke 23:34a NKJV)



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Father, help me to stay near the cross today, and remember how You love me. Amen.

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This article was e-mailed out and posted as a FaithWriters Bible Daily Devotional on September 19, 2013!
http://www.faithwriters.com/devotional.html
To God be the Glory.