This is hymn 51 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
HYMN 51: BREATHE ON ME, BREATH OF GOD
1. 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.
2. Breathe on me, Breath of God;
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
3. Breathe on me, Breath of God;
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
4. Breathe on me, Breath of God;
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
BREATHE ON ME, BREATH OF GOD HYMN COMMENTARY
Beloved in Christ, this gentle yet profoundly deep hymn, “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” is a prayer for the very life of God to be imparted to our souls. Unlike hymns that focus on our action or Christ’s atonement, this one centers on the intimate, essential work of the Holy Spirit. It echoes the creation account where God breathed life into man (Genesis 2:7) and Christ’s post-resurrection act of breathing the Holy Spirit upon His disciples (John 20:22). It is a plea for spiritual resuscitation, sanctification, and ultimate glorification.
Why Sing This Hymn
We sing this hymn to express our total dependence on the Holy Spirit for spiritual vitality, purity, and transformation. It is a prayer of surrender, asking God to accomplish in us what we cannot achieve ourselves: true Christ-like love, purity of heart, and alignment with the divine will.
1. It is a Hymn for New Life and Christ-like Affection (Verse 1)
The hymn begins with the most fundamental need: not just improvement, but new life itself. “Fill me with life anew” is a cry for revival, for the refreshment that only the Spirit can give (Titus 3:5). The purpose of this new life is immediately practical: that our affections and actions would be supernaturally aligned with God’s. “That I may love what Thou dost love, And do what Thou wouldst do.” The Spirit’s breath redirects our hearts from loving worldly things to loving divine things, empowering us to act according to God’s good pleasure.
2. It is a Hymn for Heart Purity and Surrendered Will (Verse 2)
The prayer deepens, targeting the core of our being—the heart. We ask the Breath of God to work “Until my heart is pure.” This is the sanctifying work of the Spirit, cleansing us from sinful motives and desires. This internal purity leads to the ultimate surrender: “Until with Thee I will one will.”The goal is the dissolution of our stubborn self-will into a joyful, resolved alignment with God’s will, granting us the grace “to do and to endure” whatever His purposes require. It is the prayer of Christ in Gethsemane made our own.
3. It is a Hymn for Complete Consecration and Holy Zeal (Verse 3)
We pray for the Spirit’s work to be total. “Till I am wholly Thine” expresses a desire for no part of our life to be withheld from God’s lordship. The beautiful imagery “Until this earthly part of me Glows with Thy fire divine” speaks of transformation. Our mortal, clay-like nature is to become a vessel radiating the holy, purifying, and empowering fire of the Spirit’s presence—a living testament to His indwelling power.
4. It is a Hymn for Eternal Life Already Begun (Verse 4)
The hymn concludes with a triumphant view of the Spirit’s work as the guarantee and foretaste of eternity. The life imparted by the Spirit is not merely for earthly piety; it is the very essence of eternal life. “So shall I never die” refers to spiritual death, asserting that the Spirit-born life is everlasting. We ask to begin living now “the perfect life Of Thine eternity”—a quality of divine life that transcends time, which we will experience fully in heaven but can partake of increasingly here on earth through the Spirit.
A Word for Your Spirit Today
Does your spiritual life feel dry, mechanical, or powerless? Are you struggling to love what God loves or to submit your will to His? This hymn offers the solution.
Stop striving in your own strength. Come before God with the simple, desperate prayer of this hymn. Invite the Holy Spirit to breathe upon you. Ask for His life to fill you afresh. Be specific: ask Him to purify a hidden corner of your heart, to align a stubborn will, to set a lukewarm affection on fire for God’s glory.
The God who formed humanity with His breath and revived the disciples with His breath is ready to revive you. Open your heart. Inhale His grace. Exhale your self-sufficiency. Let His divine breath be your life today and forever.
Breathe on me, Breath of God.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the life-giving Holy Spirit, Amen.
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