Salinas Roman

Welcome to Respiration, a 21-day poetic devotional and prayer journey where I invite you, friend, to embrace poetry and prayer as a form of worship and praise unto the Lord. The title Respiration was laid on my heart in 2019, when I was going through a difficult season, and through prayers and a personal relationship with God, I was finally able to breathe once I surrendered my life to my Abba Father. This collection of poems was birthed from painful failed relationships, family memories, my relationships with God, inner healing, finding my identity in Christ Jesus, and lots of crying and praying for loved ones, friends, and myself. It was a long journey of stillness, singleness, and surrendering it all to God. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of ＂respiration＂ is ＂a single complete act of breathing.＂ It was the breath of God in me that gave me life and kept me alive all these years for such a time as this. In allowing God to lead me and guide my steps, Respiration became my first poetry book project with Him. I prayed and prayed for - the words to write, - Him to send the right publisher for me, - those who would read this book, and - my work to bring Him glory. My hope is that your prayer life will be strengthened through this 21-day poetic devotional and prayer journey. TOPICS As you start reading Respiration, I pray and hope that you will be immersed in a journey and prayer life where God will open your heart to experience the world around you in a different way. The poems’ topics include God’s love and grace, grief, mother’s love, womanhood, freedom from addictions, friendships, strength and courage, healing, and hope. May your life be transformed through His grace and love toward you. VERSES AND PRAYERS Each poem has a corresponding prayer and Bible verse. Take a few minutes after reading the poem to pray and meditate on the scripture, opening your heart to let the Lord bring you what you may need that day. God loves to surprise us! REFLECTION I invite you to start journaling your 21-day poetic devotional and prayer journey. It may not seem like many words are written out at the beginning or maybe the floodgates will open as soon as you start ＂Day 1.＂ However your journey starts, don’t stop writing it out. Let the Holy Spirit guide you day by day. You will be amazed by the end of the 21-day journey, and you may even find that you, yourself, are a poet too. God gives us all gifts and talents. Sometimes, they are just hidden under layers of pain. Until we walk alongside God with a surrendered spirit can He do in us that which He called us to be. I am thankful for your support, and I pray that God continues to build you up as you grow in your relationship with Him. Keep praying, prayer warrior!