Hymns With A Message: BREATH OF HEAVEN

Sunday, December 20, 2020

BREATH OF HEAVEN

Most of the traditional Christmas songs that we have been singing this season were written many years ago. Silent Night goes back 204 years, Away In A Manger was written in 1862, Go Tell It On The Mountain in 1865, It Came Upon The Midnight Clear in 1849, O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1867, We Three Kings in 1863, and Angel From The Realms of Glory in 1862, just to name a few. However there have been a few written a few decades ago which may also pass the test of time.

One of those is the one chosen this week. It tells the nativity story from Mary's perspective portraying the mother of Jesus as a frightened young girl, attempting to deal with the circumstances of giving birth to the Holy Father's Son. Despite her human doubts, Mary's faith in the goodness and mercy of God remain and help her deal with the unique situation she finds herself in.

English songwriter Chris Eaton originally penned this song, with the title "Breath of Heaven." When Amy Grant first heard it, she decided she wanted to record the tune for her holiday album, but with the verses rewritten to personalize them. She explained "That song is so profound, but the chorus is so simple. It's authentic and perfectly written, because it uses an incredibly moving economy of words".

Finally Chris said, 'Well, OK, just for this one version, we'll let you put a different lyric on there.' I said, 'Well, you couldn't possibly have written the lyric I'm thinking of, because I'm going to write it from a woman's perspective.' I was very pregnant at the time, and I felt that was part of the inspiration for song as I tried to imagine Mary's experience. " Amy considers the intimate nature of this tune has transformed it into a prayer. She explained: "It is a prayer that fits a lot of people'' circumstances, because it is a cry of mercy. Some nights on stage I can hardly get through the song for knowing all of the collective, unspoken pain of the lives in front of me. And so the words become my prayer for the listener and the reader, as well as the singer."

The story of Mary is a remarkable story in that God chose this teenager to be the mother of His Son. Then He guided her and protected her through difficult times as she was obedient to God's call. So at this Christmas season my we be reminded of God's call on our lives and His protection and guidance as we obey Him. May we ask the Lord to "pour over me Your holiness for You are holy."

1. I have traveled many moonless nights

Cold and weary with a babe inside

And I wonder what I've done

Holy Father, You have come

And chosen me now to carry Your Son

Breath of Heaven, hold me together

Be forever near me, breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness

Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy

Breath of Heaven

2. I am waiting in a silent prayer

I am frightened by the load I bear