Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) ~ Amy Grant
Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me
In this beautiful ballad, the point of view is Mary’s–the mother of Christ. She, as portrayed in differing accounts, always wondered why God chose her. She had always been faithful to God, as was Noah, when she was chosen to be a virgin mother. She questions if someone wiser should have been chosen. Yet, she still offers herself to God’s plan of love, hope, joy, peace, and mercy. She knows that the Lord will never leave her as God does not leave His children to suffer alone.
I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now
I like to believe that Mary was silently praying when the angel appeared to her to tell her she would bear God’s Son. I would have been frightened, too, if I had been in her shoes. She was favored by God for her faithfulness to Him. That is why God chose her. From Mary’s point of view in the ballad, she knows that she must walk the path laid before her alone. This was from an earthly standpoint, but she was not alone. God never left her. God was with her. Even though her world was cold, she was warm with the light of God.
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
The ‘Breath of Heaven’ was on Mary from the moment that God chose her to bring forth the first Christmas. God poured His holiness on her as she requested. God lightened her darkness through the gift of His only Son. Mary held God as the most holy, and she asked God for His breath to be upon her—before and after Christ’s birth. She knew that God would hold her together through the difficulty she would face as being a virgin with child.
We should be as faithful to God as Mary was. God breathes on us every day of our lives—from the moment of our creation to our death. He is forever with us. Jesus is the Light that clears away the darkness and brings holiness to all that accept Him. What a great holiday gift!
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Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your gift of light, peace, hope, joy, and mercy. Without it we could not be close to You. Thank You for lighting our darkness and never leaving us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Beautiful Laura.. Thank you for your faithfulness.
this so encouraged my heart as i read (and re-read) it, laura! mary is such a great example to us…may our hearts towards God be as trusting as her’s was! <3
Beautiful Laura 🙂 What a Beautiful Blog on Mary’s willingness to serve her Lord and say yes to Him
I’m so glad you chose this song, Laura. Thank you! This has been one of the most special songs in my adult life. I remember the first time I heard it at church – sitting in the choir and watching and listening as one of our soloists walked down the aisle dressed as Mary, singing this song. I was awed!
Unlike Mary, we were not chosen to carry Jesus in the womb and share Him with the world, but we were chosen to carry Him in our hearts and share Him with the world. Thank you Jesus for coming to save us. I pray I won’t let you down.
Thank you, Laura, for this beautiful song and your wise words. I love what you said, “Jesus is the Light that clears away the darkness and brings holiness to all who accept Him.” I pray that I am always one who carries Him in my heart and shares Him with the world around me.
beautiful Laura, thanks for sharing!