Hi! Here are a couple more “stories behind the songs.” The latest from the 'Hydraulics' album is "Air I Need,” which is a devotional praise song that was written after a season of severe asthma (something that I have dealt with at various times in life since I was young, mainly due to environmental allergies). A side note here is that the album title ‘Hydraulics’ also points to the human circulatory system, amongst other things. Maybe I’ll geek out about that later lol. Anyways, since breathing is a theme in my life - and especially over these past few years - I have enjoyed studying various parts of Scripture that reference breath and breathing (and their context)!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (ESV)
Study of this verse showed me that the Greek word used there means “God breathed.” Some translations say “inspired by” or “given by inspiration of,” but it is very cool to realize the more accurate meaning. The Scripture is Holy Spirit inspired / “breathed out” by God. So when thinking about breathing in as a human, I want to breathe in the Word. This is the air I need. :)
In Acts 17:25, Paul says “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” (NKJV) This is one of many verses that shows God being the giver of breath and life. This section emphasizes turning from idol worshipping to worship the true God - “for in Him we live and move and have our being” Acts 17:28.
I was also studying Daniel recently and noticed an interesting phrase that relates to this. As Daniel is explaining the meaning of the mysterious “writing on the wall” to king Belshazzar, he warns him saying that “…you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified” Daniel 5:23 (NKJV). Although this is a warning, the concept of God holding our breath in His hand is very notable.
Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (NKJV). Of course the creation account mentions this!
The book of Job mentions the breath of life in a couple of memorable places. One of these verses, Job 33:4 is something that I usually see by itself, though it has very interesting context otherwise. Elihu is speaking to Job and says “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (NKJV) This is definitely a powerful statement and draws the connection between breath and the Holy Spirit, which is amazing since the book of Job is likely one of the earliest written in the Bible.
Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” (NKJV) This is a phrase that is included as a kind of echo in this song and it is also prominent in another song that will release soon. Of course Psalm 23 is one of the most quoted Psalms, and for good reason. I was talking with someone about a challenge in my life and she reminded me of this verse in reference to a story that she had heard from someone else. The basic gist was that if things happened one way then God’s goodness and mercy would be following after them, and if they happened another way then God’s goodness and mercy would still be following after them. This may seem like a simple statement but for me it went deep into my heart. In the end, the Lord is my Shepherd and my life is His.
There are so many other verses that reference breathing, the Holy Spirit, and God being our sustainer, but it would take pages to mention all of them! There are some that I remembered but didn’t include in this post, and I’m sure there are some that I could have mentioned but didn’t think to. There are countless hidden treasures in the Bible that I have barely scratched the surface of. I am still learning and will never stop learning! It is just fun to write about as these are things that excite me! That being said, here are some verses that inspired the other new song “Hidden in my Heart:"
Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119 in general.
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 6:68-69 “But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Link to songs: https://wingsmusic.lnk.to/AirINeedHiddeninmyHeart